June 27, 2019
St. Thomas, VI- Senator Donna Frett-Gregory is issuing an urgent reminder to Governor Albert Bryan Jr. about the importance of career and technical education. In February, the senator wrote to Gov. Bryan, urging him to nominate individuals to serve on the VI Career and Technical Education Board. To date, no new members have been nominated. The VI CTE Board has only three sitting members, where the full complement of board members is nine.
The senator is adamant that the career readiness of students is enhanced by vocational training. She stressed that it must be a priority for the Bryan Administration to demonstrate its commitment to the development of vocational training programs by nominating individuals to the VI Career and Technical Education Board. The board shapes vocational education in the territory and having only three sitting members on a nine-member board harms progress.
“If the Virgin Islands is to compete as an economic engine in years to come, the territory will need to develop the talents of its future workforce,” Sen. Frett-Gregory said. “Academic degrees are only part of the picture. Career and Technical Education (CTE) helps students obtain real-world skills that employers are desperately searching for in today’s job market.”
Once nominated, appointments to the VI CTE Board will be submitted to the 33rd Legislature for confirmation.
"Those individuals who are nominated should have a passion for advancing the vocational education and career readiness of students in the territory,” the senator said. "These CTE Board nominations are languishing. If there are challenges that I can assist with let me know. I am prepared to help.”
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CONTACT:
Juanita Frett
Community Outreach Director
Office of Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory