State test scores show 'total student' in mind at NCCTC

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Northumberland County Career and Technology Center (NCCTC) has excelled at its version of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests, according to the state's director of the Bureau of Career and Technical Education.

NCCTC was recently awarded a pair of certificates from Director Lee Burket for meeting or exceeding goals during the 2008-09 school year set for every career and technical center in the commonwealth. Those goals include a 13 percent increase over the PSSA-based baseline in total, an 11 percent increase in reading proficiency and a 13 percent or better increase in math.

This accomplishment, according to Principal Robert Beierschmitt and Administrative Director Alexander Choman, reflects the combined effort of NCCTC and its home schools - Shamokin Area, Mount Carmel Area and Line Mountain - to produce a "total student."

"What this means," Beierschmitt said, "is that we're not just dealing with teaching students a trade any

more. We're changing over to incorporating math and numerary skills, literary skills."

"It's a concerted effort between the home schools and the career center," Choman added.

The career center's recognition "is a compliment to the sending schools. They reinforce skills there," Beierschmitt said.

Strengths, weaknesses

The decisions that have led to these improvements have not been haphazard, either, he said.

"It's data-driven analysis," he added, pointing to rows of binders and stacks of folders filled with information - PSSA scores, attendance, socioeconomic factors, reading and math scores and independent education plans. "Our strengths and weaknesses. How to build on our strengths and overcome our weaknesses."

Most students at the career and technology center don't even realize they're gaining math or literary skills, the administrators said. Students will shrug it off, saying they don't know how to do, say, geometry. They're not smart enough.

"But they're doing it," Beierschmitt said. "In reality, they are," when they're learning how to calculate the angles on a roof, or studying Ohm's Law in electricity class.

"The efforts are paying off," Choman said. "The faculty deserves a lot of credit, along with the faculty at the home schools, and Principal Beierschmitt. He's an integral part."

Held accountable

This inclusion of math and literacy skills is a statewide effort by the Bureau of Career and Technical Education.

"The state is holding schools accountable for the education of a total student. We're all responsible for raising reading and math skills," Choman said. "Toward that end, we're working with the home schools."

NCCTC has also extended professional development for the staff, including Act 48 educational classes. The school has purchased trade journals for each instructor, and it's part of the Technical Assistance Program, or TAP, which aids schools in designing school improvement plans.

NCCTC has also been assigned a Distinguished School Leader, Steve Walk. Walk's a retired director for the Columbia-Montour Vocational-Technical School. The school also meets regularly with representatives from each home school.

"We're looking at ways to reinforce these skills," Beierschmitt said.

Beierschmitt and Choman are also looking to increase attendance and decrease disciplinary referrals.

"It's hard to decrease something that's not bad," Beierschmitt said with a smile, referring to disciplinary problems.

HVAC, CAD coming

In 2011, the school is looking to expand its course offerings by instituting an HVAC and drafting/CAD (computer-aided design) classes.

Beierschmitt and Choman agree that NCCTC will continue to expand on its recent success.

"This proves the validity of what the teachers are doing," Choman said. "We're proud of the work they're doing and the work of the students."

"We'll continue to make strides," Beierschmitt said.

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