2025 May Newsletter

ANNUAL CITEA STATE CONFERENCE
The Annual State Conference will be held at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on June 18-20, 2025.
Register now! CLICK HERE

“I became a pimple on a very flat plane — easy to spot.”

That’s how John describes his role in California’s career and technical education community, and it couldn’t be more fitting. Over decades of service, he became a visible and vital presence— connecting educators, building programs, and driving progress across the state.

His contributions to the CITEA conferences have been especially impactful. A true believer in the power of shared knowledge, he championed hands-on mini-sessions where teachers could build something and walk away with a complete lesson plan. “If you kept going year after year,” he often said, “you’d end up with 20 solid projects ready to teach.” These practical, ready-to-use resources helped make teachers more effective in the classroom— and kept the conference grounded in real-world application. From the packed hotel gatherings on Arden Way in Sacramento, to the summer MTTA Conference, to smaller regional workshops, he valued every chance for educators to learn, collaborate, and recharge.

Industry partnerships were another of his strengths. He didn’t wait for opportunities—he made them. Traveling to Wisconsin, he convinced Briggs & Stratton to start summer training programs for teachers. He built similar bridges with Tecumseh, Kohler, and GM, strengthening the link between the classroom and the workforce. These connections brought new resources, training, and tools into California shops, helping teachers stay current and students better prepared.

In addition to his work with SkillsUSA and industry, he spent years lobbying in Sacramento, fighting for the survival of high school shop programs across California. At a time when the educational system was shifting toward a “college-for-all” mindset, he pushed back—making sure lawmakers and decision-makers understood that career and technical education (CTE) is not just an alternative, but an essential path. He championed the value of hands-on learning not only in preparing students for real-world careers and supporting California’s economy, but also as a vital part of a student’s overall development—building confidence, problem-solving skills, and a sense of purpose. Whether coordinating the Small Gas Engines contest at SkillsUSA (formerly VICA), advising other competitions like precision machining and welding, or mentoring new teachers, his influence was far-reaching. Always transparent, he believed in open access: clear expectations, shared resources, and equal opportunity for all programs to succeed. But none of it, he insists, could have happened without his wife of 60 years, Dianne. Her steady support, patience, and partnership made it all possible—from conference weekends to summer industry trips and everything in between. His legacy isn’t just in the contests run or connections made—it’s in the countless number of teachers and students who were empowered by his work and inspired by his example.
 

As we approach the end of the school year, I hope your classes havegone well. Sometimes as we approach the end of the school year exhausted, we forget to look back at the moments that made the difference in a student’s life: that one moment when you gave a word of encouragement to a student who is struggling; when you shared a laugh with a group of students working on a project; or when you just listened as a student shared their worries. Never forget the influence you have and the great teaching you provide for your students. You change lives! As you wrap up projects and get ready to rest for the summer, we hope to see you at the CITEA summer conference for networking, professional development, and good food.

Kathy Worley President, CITEA
 

2025 Conference Sample Schedule

2025 Conference Sample Schedule – Register Today! Register Link Visit the CITEA State Conference web page for Conference updates:

Wednesday June 18, 2025 Industry Tours and Woodstock’s Pizza
Register today for a FREE Industry tour! Register Link (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

Vandenberg Space Force Base – please sign up by May 21, 2025
Deadwood Revival Design (AM) and Hogue Gun Grips (PM)

Thursday June 19, 2025 All Day Sessions and Industrial Eating BBQ
Woodworking
Resin Pour
Welding – AWS Certification
Manufacturing (From Design to Production)
Sketching/Manual Drafting Fundamentals
Middle School Industrial Technology – Sheet Metal Box Project

Friday June 20, 2025 Sessions
Understanding HR 82: The Social Security Fairness Act

Learn about the history and ongoing efforts behind HR 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. This session will cover the progress made toward passing the legislation, its implications for public employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), and what to expect as implementation moves forward.

Safe from Day One: Building a Shop Safety Program That Works
Kathy Worley and Donald Repucci

Developing a safety program for the high school shop is essential to protect both students and teachers. This session outlines the process of creating a comprehensive safety training and testing system, including key elements that legal experts identified as defensible in the event of an accident.

Santa's Toy Shop / Growing Your Program
Lance Gunnersen
For 28 years, Lance Gunnersen has offered students an opportunity to learn and bring joy to others. Every fall, the career technical education (CTE) teacher has his woodworking and engineering students at El Dorado High School design and produce toys — cars, trains, games and other items to give away at a special holiday event called Santa's Toy Shop. Come see why this approach has had such a positive influence on the school and local community. Santa's Toy Shop raises significant money in a variety of ways and brings the entire community together building a formattable coalition of supporters for his programs.

Share Your Wealth - Bring your digital files or hard copies of projects, lesson plans, or classroom inspiration to share on the CITEA website.
Christine Linné

In the spirit of CITEA’s motto, “Teachers Helping Teachers,” this session invites you to contribute valuable resources to benefit fellow educators. Bring your digital files or hard copies of projects, lesson plans, or classroom inspiration to share on the CITEA website. Let’s collaborate and grow together—your ideas can make a difference!

Carbon Arc Cutting Skills
Larry Paredes

This will be a hands-on workshop on the usage of the Carbon Arc Cutting process. Attendees can take home items that were cut during the workshop. Materials such as mild steel, welding rods and wire, carbon arc electrode holders, compressed air, etc. will be needed to perform lab exercises.

AI Tools for Educators: Streamlining Workflow, Creativity and Engagement.
Chris Silva

Discover practical, classroom-ready AI tools to enhance teaching, boost student creativity, and save time. Learn how to use ChatGPT for lesson planning and prompts, explore Napkin AI for visual brainstorming, and get introduced to free tools for design and productivity. Leave with actionable strategies—no matter your tech comfort level.

Donors Choose and Fundraising for Shop Programs
Eric Runge

Learn practical strategies for raising funds to support your classroom or CTE program. This session shares proven tips for successful fundraising, including how to effectively use Donors Choose and engage community support to meet student needs and expand opportunities.

CEU’s available:
1.0 - one day
1.5 - two days
2.0 - tours + two days

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As a member, you can also share your knowledge to help others succeed. Join us today and be part of a community focused on educational excellence!