Dear CAHCE Members,

As your President it is exciting for me to see fellow teachers, administrators, and professionals dedicated to develop rigorous programs that foster a passion in the lives of future health care providers. Your dedication and unselfish support for the students and career technical education is evident by being involved with CAHCE. My time with this organization has shown me how the members from CAHCE have had influence on the policies that directly affect our administrators, teachers, students, and society. I have also seen the benefits of offering professional development that foster student success.

As career technical education advocates, we are living in an exciting time where the State of California is seeing the importance of strong career technical education programs. During Jack O'Connells State of Education Address, 2007 he stated that, "rigorous career-oriented models have proven to be effective in improving the achievement of students at risk of failing or dropping out of school." He also stated that he plans to "expand California Partnership Academies from 290 to 500 statewide."

We need to not only respond to the support from the California Department of Education but also respond with innovative curriculum and programs.

I hope that CAHCE empowers you to continue the development of the best strategies for student success at your site and for California.

Thanks-you for your participation, dedication to the students, and the profession.

Colleen Tunnell