Select Page

Strong leadership yields strong partnerships for New Jersey’s county vocational-technical schools

March 28, 2022

Jackie Burke Fostering PartnersipsAs NJCCVTS Executive Director, Jackie Burke is the point person for the critical collaboration that connects businesses with county vocational-technical schools. Those schools thrive with the support of over 3,500 active business partnerships that include companies, small business, government agencies and unions.

“The role our local business partners play in the success of our schools cannot be overstated,” Burke explained. “They are the reason our schools can proactively prepare students for the economic needs of the state and can create a critical pipeline of well trained graduates for employers as they struggle to find qualified workers.

Burke was recognized in March 2022 as a strong leader among ROI-NJ’s Women in Business influencers, a testament to her success as an advocate for career and technical education (CTE) programs statewide. Her determination helped pass the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond while promoting the value of CTE. Today, those funds are enabling New Jersey county vocational-technical school districts to expand programming and classroom capacity. As Burke’s time with the council has grown, so has the number of valuable business partnerships she has helped form.

With thousands of already established partnerships and many more forming in the future, a mutually beneficial relationship exists between county vocational-technical schools and the businesses providing them with mentors, classroom lecturers, employers, and advisors. The council’s efforts, led by Burke, encourage businesses to become business partners, and are at the root of a strengthening statewide workforce.

Burke was also recognized in February as an ROI-NJ Influencer under the category of Associations & Organizations. She was additionally recognized in May as an ROI-NJ Influencer for Manufacturing 2022.

Featured News

Morris County Vocational District Partners with CCM on Career Center (TAPintoDenville)

Morris County Vocational District Partners with CCM on Career Center (TAPintoDenville)

The Denville-based Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD) and the County College of Morris (CCM) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 27 for a new Career Training Center. The joint endeavor will open doors and improve lives by enabling Morris County students to pursue in-demand educational and career pathways while earning high school and college credits simultaneously, said the schools.

Ruhle: On tying education to workforce development — and respecting teachers (ROI-NJ)

Ruhle: On tying education to workforce development — and respecting teachers (ROI-NJ)

Stephanie Ruhle of MSNBC recently spoke at the seventh annual Middlesex County Business Summit at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, where she emphasized the importance of vocational-technical programs. “Workforce development is the most important thing if you care about social change, care about economic development, care about how people can rise up from the bottom — that starts with getting into the foundation of a great education,” she said.

Manufacturing groups try new approaches to solve employee shortage (NJBIZ)

Manufacturing groups try new approaches to solve employee shortage (NJBIZ)

There has been a “strong resurgence of career and technical education programs in manufacturing,” according to Jackie Burke, executive director of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools. The organization and its 21 member districts “are helping to build a pipeline of next-generation manufacturing employees by both spreading awareness about the field, including what it is and the growing career opportunities in it, as well as expanding training programs to help students prepare for these opportunities,” Burke added.