While we are not changing the basic principles of our discipline, we are emphasizing the real nature of our profession — so everyone will come to understand that there is more to what we do than gears and gas or wood and nails.
At the suggestion that NATIE take the lead role, we have met with the National Association of State Supervisors for Trade and Industrial Education (NASSTIE) and have determined that the two groups should merge. This unified organization will help us increase participation in the representative T&I groups, concentrate our resources, and develop mutually beneficial programs that will ultimately serve more people across the nation.
In August 2005, elected officials from NATIE and NASSTIE met in Orlando to decide how to bring about a merger of the two. The initial plan was to develop a set of bylaws to govern a new organization, with a new name, that will speak more effectively for all T&I educators. The two groups continued discussions in December, at the Association for Career and Technical Education national convention, and officially formed ASTS in June, 2006 at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.
This was a proposal for change, as we believe it was greatly needed to become more effective as a national voice for our programs. We welcome your input and observations and are looking to involve all interested groups in helping implement the new system and a new organization.
The Association for Skilled and Technical Sciences (ASTS) is recognized nationally by education, business, and government as the premier organization representing technical educators in shaping policy and programs to build a skilled global work force.
ASTS empowers educators to be leaders and advocates for skilled and technical sciences education. Our mission is accomplished through a structured program of training, networking, conferences, political action, and recognition activities.
The ASTS mission is built upon—and its success depends on—the commitment of our members and partners to the following values: integrity, ethics, respect, responsibility, citizenship and service.
While the initial plan was to merge NATIE and NASSTIE, we have considered the valuable potential of involving other T&I associations and organizations. We hope to ultimately engage the following groups to become a more effective voice for T&I: NASSTIE, NATIE, AATII, NAITTE and SkillsUSA. Members include: administrators, secondary teachers, postsecondary teachers, teacher educators and student association advisors (SkillsUSA/TSA/other).
|
