Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cte Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lynchburg CTE leader outlines program growth, partnerships and educator academy after longtime supervisor's death
Summary
CTE director Travis Marshall presented expanded middle‑ and high‑school CTE offerings, new partnerships with CVCC and Big Brothers Big Sisters, a July educator workforce academy, and noted capital improvements to CTE facilities; he also recognized the recent passing of long‑time CTE supervisor Robbie Dooley.
Travis Marshall delivered a comprehensive update on career and technical education for Lynchburg City Schools, highlighting program breadth, recent facility investments and emerging partnerships.
Marshall began by honoring Robbie Dooley, the system’s longtime supervisor of career and technical education, who recently died; he described Dooley’s 32 years of service and impact on students and staff. Marshall said the district’s CTE programs span early career exploration at middle schools through specialized high‑school tracks—automotive technology, precision machine technology, culinary arts, cosmetology, dental careers, nurse aid, cybersecurity, JROTC and others—aimed at preparing students for both college and careers.
He described the completion of the Sandusky Middle School technology lab and ongoing capital improvements to the automotive and culinary labs. Marshall referenced capital funding this year earmarked for CTE improvements and estimated the current round of capital investment for CTE at roughly $470,000–$480,000 (he framed that as a conservative figure). He highlighted dual‑enrollment opportunities at the regional CTE Academy hosted at Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) and said those programs allow students to earn college credits and access pathways such as welding, HVAC and mechatronics.
Marshall also announced an educator workforce academy scheduled for July 16–17 to expose teachers and school staff to regional employers and industry practices so educators can better align classroom learning with local workforce needs. He said the district is developing a career mentoring initiative in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia to pilot mentor matches for a small group of CTE students.
Board members praised the CTE expansion and asked clarifying questions about certifications (OSHA, ServSafe) and whether transportation and scheduling allow students to access off‑site programs; Marshall confirmed transportation is provided and said the district is working on placement logistics. Members also discussed exploring CDL training and building trades pathways.
Marshall closed by thanking the board for support and noting continued efforts to collect employment outcomes via CTE completer surveys and work‑based learning data.
Separately, the district’s finance presenter, Ms. James, summarized April month‑end financials and announced an EdFlex waiver application: a 30‑day public comment period on the LCS website will precede submission to the Virginia Department of Education, allowing the district to request flexibility in Title IV allocations.
