Growing Together: The Role of the Western Statewide CTE Consortium in Rural Development with Fawn Wilde

In this episode of the NCLA podcast, our host, Rachael Mann, is joined by Fawn Wilde, the director of the Western Statewide CTE Consortium in South Dakota.  The discussion centers around innovative CTE programs and the consortium's mission to bridge education and industry, enhancing student success and workforce readiness across over 20 school districts. Fawn emphasizes the importance of community and industry collaboration in advancing CTE, highlighting significant investments in facilities like the Spearfish High School CTE Center and Wall School District's new facility. Fawn sheds light on how these expansions align with workforce development goals and local job market needs, providing examples of hands-on training and real-world exposure for students. Additionally, she touches upon overcoming the perception issues surrounding CTE, involving school counselors, and promoting CTE among educators and parents. The conversation concludes with insights on how to ensure these programs evolve to meet future workforce demands, making a broader community impact, and fostering pride in local communities. Learn more about these initiatives: Spearfish High School Debuts New CTE Center Hot Springs School District Wall School Breaks Ground For Career And Technical Education Building Custer Jr-Sr High School CTE Addition More about our podcast guest: Fawn Wilde is a seasoned education professional and success coach with a passion for empowering fellow educators and students to create innovative solutions that bridge the gap between education and industry, fostering a network that supports student success and workforce readiness. Her extensive background in program management, community engagement, leadership, and finance has equipped her with the skills to build and sustain strong partnerships and drive results as the Director for the Western Statewide CTE Consortium of over 20 school districts in western South Dakota. She is motivated by her commitment to being a role model for her daughters and the belief that together, we can achieve more than we do on our own.