Ready for SkillsUSA Week?

SkillsUSA Week is Feb. 7-11, and you can participate in many ways: Honor your community supporters, connect with local business and industry professionals, or make a presentation about your CTE program and SkillsUSA chapter at a school board meeting. We encourage you to celebrate all week by planning activities that follow the daily schedule of events for local chapters nationwide.

• Monday, Feb. 7, Recognition Day. Recognize and honor members, advisors, administrators, business partners, community leaders and supporters who make a meaningful impact on your CTE program and SkillsUSA chapter.

• Tuesday, Feb. 8, Give Back Day. Rally around your school community by focusing on ways for your chapter to give back.

• Wednesday, Feb. 9, Partner Day. Invite local business and industry leaders to connect with members, highlighting the importance of developing career-readiness skills found in the SkillsUSA Framework.

• Thursday, Feb. 10, Advocacy Day. Amplify CTE in your community by conducting a local public relations activity, such as presenting to school board members, administrators and community leaders.

• Friday, Feb. 11, SkillsUSA Day. Celebrate SkillsUSA by wearing your favorite SkillsUSA T-shirt, planning a celebration activity or posting your SkillsUSA Framework story on social media using the hashtag: #SkillsUSAWeek.

 

The SkillsUSA Week Chapter Guide assists chapters in planning for each day of SkillsUSA Week.

 

SkillsUSA Framework Integration Toolkit Ensures Student Success

SkillsUSA gives students opportunities to gain, refine and showcase their skills on a national platform. The SkillsUSA Framework was created to ensure that students can communicate their experiences and their growth to future employers. The Framework Integration Toolkit is available as a member resource in SkillsUSA Absorb within the “Professional Membership Benefits” button. The toolkit includes:

 

• SkillsUSA Framework Essential Elements Definitions and Behaviors.

• SkillsUSA Framework Foundations Lesson Plans.

• SkillsUSA Framework Motion Graphic Video.

• SkillsUSA Framework Essential Element Motion Graphic Videos.

• SkillsUSA Framework Integration Strategies.

• Experiential Activities to Promote the SkillsUSA Framework.

• Business Partner Outreach and Preparation Guide.

• SkillsUSA Framework Story Lesson Plan and Videos.

• SkillsUSA Framework Bingo.

• SkillsUSA Framework Kahoot.

 

You can utilize all ten resources to dive deep into the 17 Essential Elements and have fun doing so with games like bingo and Kahoot! If you have trouble accessing SkillsUSA Absorb or the Framework Integration Toolkit, call the SkillsUSA Customer Care Team toll free: 844-875-4557 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 11 a.m.–7 p.m. ET Tuesday and Thursday. You can also email the team at customercare@skillsusa.org.

 

Free Educational Resources and Career Essentials Opportunity

SkillsUSA has partnered with Aerotek and The Swinerton Foundation to deliver 37 grants to provide high school and college/postsecondary chapters with materials from the SkillsUSA Educational Resources store and access to our Career Essentials curriculum. These resources will help you integrate the SkillsUSA Framework you’re your classroom and chapter. Eligible chapters can receive a $3,000 or $4,500 grant, and applications must be submitted by Jan. 21. Recipients will be notified by Feb 11. Determine eligibility and apply here. For questions, contact Brandon Monk.

 

Proposed Bylaw Amendment Submissions

Registered SkillsUSA members can submit proposed bylaw amendments for middle school, high school or college/postsecondary divisions for consideration by the SkillsUSA House of Delegates. Bylaw amendment motions must be submitted, in writing, to Tyler Chaffin by Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. ET. SkillsUSA’s national executive council and board of directors will review all submissions at the March 2022 board meeting. All motions will be distributed to state SkillsUSA directors by April 22. Motions will then be presented for vote at the official business meeting of the House of Delegates during the 2022 SkillsUSA national conference. Bylaw amendments are governed by Article XII of the high school and college/postsecondary bylaws and Article X of the middle school bylaws. For more information and to view the bylaws, go here. The motion form is located here. For questions, contact Tyler Chaffin. 

 

Free Access to National Officer Candidate Resources Ends Feb. 1

Becoming a SkillsUSA national officer is the ultimate personal growth and student leadership experience, and the 2022-23 National Officer Program Guide and application are now available. Before filling out that application, carefully review the guide, which contains a wealth of information on the certifications and Career Essentials coursework required of all candidates. SkillsUSA provides no-cost access to these certifications to national officer candidates, but you must apply for those by Feb. 1. See the guide for more details. All national officer applications must be submitted by June 1 at 6 p.m. ET.

 

Nominations for Honorary Life and Outstanding Career and Technical Educators

SkillsUSA is seeking additional nominations for SkillsUSA Honorary Life Member and Outstanding Career and Technical Educator awards. If you would like to nominate an individual for recognition at our national conference in June, please complete the online applications here. The deadline is Feb. 15. For questions, contact Laura Rauch.

 

2022 SkillsUSA Week T-shirt

Gear up for SkillsUSA Week and get your 2022 long-sleeve T-shirt from the SkillsUSA Store now while supplies last! This 100% cotton shirt features the winning design by Ellis Eley from SkillsUSA Georgia, with some additional SkillsUSA spirit on the sleeve. Show your style, stay warm and celebrate that we are United as One!

 

Register Members by March 1 for Big Benefits

The national SkillsUSA membership deadline is March 1. Student members must meet both state and national deadlines to be eligible to participate in national competitions; serve as voting delegates; run for national office; participate in national programming; or apply for scholarships, awards and honors. As a benefit, professional members receive online access to a host of powerful resources. Learn how to access your professional membership benefits in this Google doc.

 

Professional Development Opportunities for January

Please join your fellow advisors for our January SkillsUSA Professional Development sessions. Topics include “Chapter Excellence Program for New Advisors,” “Best Practices: Community Service” and “Guides for Hosting a Local Career Competition.” We will also host a “New Advisor Training” session on Jan. 21. See the training calendar here. Completion certificates are provided for each session. Use this Google Doc to learn how to access your professional membership benefits online. A PDF of the 2021-22 Professional Development Opportunities is available here. For questions, contact Karolina Belen.

 

Chapter Excellence Program Opportunity

SkillsUSA offers all advisors and chapters the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one coaching session with Kelli Engelbrecht, our Chapter Excellence Program (CEP) and Program of Work coach. The one-on-one coaching session can assist your chapter in strategizing how to take your CEP application to the next level or help a new chapter or advisor get started. Learn how to effectively integrate the SkillsUSA Framework, articulate SMART goals and select and evaluate Essential Elements within the CEP application. To schedule your 30-minute Zoom coaching appointment, please see the CEP Coaching Calendar. Once you schedule your appointment from the provided link, we will follow-up with details. Please contact Kelli Engelbrecht with any questions at kengelbrecht@skillsusa.org.  

 

Criminal Justice Expertise on “SkillsUSA Technical Fridays”

Join us for “SkillsUSA Technical Fridays,” SkillsUSA’s industry-led workshops that help teachers develop specific technical skills relevant to their career fields. On Jan. 21 from 4-5 p.m. ET, the presenter is Tim Hart, a retired police officer from California who also served with the U.S. State Department training police in Afghanistan and Iraq. His session will focus on the basic principles and techniques of arrest and control, gun takeaway as well as self-defense tactics. Professional development certificates are available for attending. The cost to attend the session is $10. Register here.

 

Share Your Unique Knowledge and Skills During SkillsUSA University

SkillsUSA is seeking presenters for the 2022 SkillsUSA University. Are you an expert in your career cluster? Do you have a skill you would like to share with teachers and students attending the 2022 National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta? Sessions will take place on June 21, 22 and 23. Submit the request for presentation proposal here by Feb. 27. For questions, contact Karolina Belen.

 

Take Up the Challenge! National Conference Pin and T-shirt Design

SkillsUSA is once again sponsoring the 2022 National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) Pin and T-shirt Design Challenge to all dues-paying student members of the organization. The winning designs will become the official T-shirt and pin design for the 2022 NLSC. The challenge opens Jan. 15, entries must be received by March 15 at 12 a.m. ET, and the winners will be announced on March 21. Rules and submission links will be posted on the SkillsUSA website by Jan. 15.