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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Council

Council Statement

The CTE Advisory Council advises the Board and the Commissioner on matters related to Career Technical Education (CTE) across the Commonwealth. In FY25, the council's focus will include equitable access to CTE pathways, Department monitoring and support systems and processes for CTE programs, and program quality and alignment to business and industry. This work will support the Department's Educational Vision that all students are provided with learning experiences that are relevant, real-world, and interactive and are provided individualized supports that enable them to excel at grade level and beyond.

SY2026-2027 Meeting Schedule

Meetings are held via Zoom webinar from 3:30-5:30 and guests are invited to attend.

October 28, 2026 at 3:30pm

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Agenda Topics:

  • Report from DESE Office of College, Career and Technical Education
  • Perkins State Plan — SY26-27 Key Activities and Updates
  • Perkins State Plan Implementation — Proposed Graduation Requirements Updates
  • Perkins State Plan Implementation — Framework Alignment Updates

January 20, 2027 at 3:30pm

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Agenda Topics:

  • Report from DESE Office of College, Career and Technical Education
  • Perkins State Plan Implementation — Work-based Learning and MEFAPathway

March 24, 2027 at 3:30pm

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Agenda Topics:

  • Report from DESE Office of College, Career and Technical Education
  • Perkins State Plan Implementation — Postsecondary CTE

June 9, 2027 at 3:30pm

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Agenda Topics:

  • Report from DESE Office of College, Career and Technical Education
  • Perkins State Plan Implementation — Increasing CTE Seats, CTE Programs, and CTE Partnerships
  • Looking Forward to Next Year

SY2026-2027 Council Members

Term 1, Year 1:

  • Catherine Rickert, District Director of CTE, Brockton Public Schools
  • Derek Costa, Superintendent-Director, Bristol County Agricultural High School
  • Dina Wassaf, Chief Scientific Officer & Parent, Stealth & Burlington High School
  • Gavin Russo, Student, Watertown High School
  • Jarrod Lussier, Vocational Director, Cooperative Coordinator & Adjunct Professor, Southeastern Regional Vocational High School & Fitchburg State University
  • Jennifer Voyik, Superintendent, South Hadley Public Schools
  • Kristen Lech, Director of Graduate Programs in Special Education and English as a Second Language, Bay Path University
  • Shelly Zayas, Director of CTE & Cooperative Education, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School

Term 1, Year 2:

  • Mark Lyons, Vice President of Sales, Advanced Educational Technologies (AET)
  • Nick Palermo, Director of Public Affairs, Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association

Term 1, Year 3:

  • Kathleen Duff, CTE Director, Newton Public Schools
  • LaTrelle Pinkney-Chase, Exploratory Cooperative Education Coordinator, Rindge Technical School of the Arts

Term 2, Year 1:

  • Akram Mchiti, Postsecondary Student, Wentworth Institute of Technology
  • Judith Pelletier, Director, Division of Nurse Education, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School
  • James Tripp Pockevicius*, CTE Director, Bay Path RVTHS/Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational

Term 2, Year 3:

  • Lew Finfer, Director & Community Organizer, MA Action for Justice & Vocational Education Justice Coalition
  • Steve Sharek, Executive Director, Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA)
  • Julie Spencer-Robinson*, Parent, Parent, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School

*Board Co-chairs

Last Updated: September 30, 2026

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