Cerritos College Gains New Program Manager for Career and Technical Educator Training Program

Mirna Cardenas will Direct Development of State-Funded Grant

For Immediate Release: July 17, 2007

Media Contact: Kristen Habbestad, Public Affairs; (562) 860-2451, ext. 2287

Cerritos College recently hired Mirna Cardenas as project manager for the new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Pathways Program, a grant-funded initiative that seeks to provide training for potential CTE educators.

NORWALK, CA - July 17, 2007 - Cerritos College recently hired Mirna Cardenas as project manager for the new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Pathways Program, a grant-funded initiative that seeks to provide training for potential CTE educators. In spring 2007, Cerritos College's Teacher TRAC program--an award-winning teacher-preparation academy--received a one-year, $264,571 "Teacher Preparation Pipeline Grant" from the California Community College Chancellor's Office to develop and implement a program to address the need for CTE educators at the secondary and community college level.

Six new CTE Teacher Preparation pathways will be supported: three for future high school teachers and three for future community college teachers. Career pathways will be developed in three CTE career sectors: Automotive Technology (Transportation Sector), Woodworking (Building Trades and Construction Sector) and Welding (Manufacturing and Product Development Sector). Grant funds will go toward developing curriculum, marketing and recruitment efforts and staff development.

Partners in the CTE pathways program include the Southeast Regional Occupation Program (SEROP), California State University Long Beach (CSULB), California State University Los Angeles (CSULA), and the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association (SMCDA).

Cardenas will oversee initial development of the program, recruit a new cohort of students and foster transfer relationships with CSU partners.

"The CTE pathways program is designed to allow students from our diverse community fulfill CTE education requirements and eventually gain employment as highly desired CTE teachers," Cardenas said.

Cardenas previously served in the counseling department at Glendale Community College and as a special programs coordinator at Rio Hondo College. She also served as chief of staff for a community development corporation and as a staff member in Washington D.C. for Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor. Cardenas received both a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in education and counseling from UCLA.

For more information about Cerritos College&s CTE pathways program, contact Cardenas at (562) 860-2451, ext. 2745 or by e-mail at micardenas@cerritos.edu.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college's district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 200 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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Cerritos College

Releases 2007

Cerritos College Gains New Program Manager for Career and Technical Educator Training Program

Mirna Cardenas will Direct Development of State-Funded Grant