MADISON – Dr. Heather Donaldson has been selected to represent Alabama on the prestigious National Career and Technical Education Advisory Council.

Donaldson works as Chief Academic Officer with Madison City Schools.

In 2021, CompTIA as the nonprofit parent company formed the advisory council to lead a national dialog focused on accelerating career pathways in technology. Donaldson and other board members will advocate for career and technical education for everyone, everywhere in an ever-changing workforce.

The CompTIA National Career and Technical Education Advisory Council will include representatives from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

“We strongly believe that CTE will play a critical role in our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated household finances and changed educational plans for many families,” Angel L. Pineiro Jr. said. Pineiro is Vice President, Strategic Academic Relationships, at CompTIA.

“With the help of an elite group of educators and other leaders, we intend to raise national awareness of career/tech as a creator of opportunities for careers that will provide a better way of life for multiple generations to come,” Pineiro said.

The announcement of Donaldson’s appointment coincides with Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign to celebrate the value of career/tech.

“Possibilities are limitless for students enrolled in career technical programs,” Shirlaurence D. Fair said. Fair serves as Director of Career And Technical Education for the Clarksdale Municipal School District in Clarksdale, Miss. Fair serves on the career/tech council with Donaldson.

“The 2020 pandemic exposed the shortage of essential workers and the need for a more skilled workforce,” Fair said. “For America to remain a superpower, we must offer all students, especially minorities, access to career technical education.”

In January, U.S. employers advertised more than 232,000 job openings for core IT positions. Virtually every industry sector had these openings in software and application development, IT support, systems engineering and architecture and IT project management.

The advisory council will focus on technology trends and emerging tech, best practices for instruction, connecting with industry employers, professional development for instructors, credentialing and certification programs, grants and other funding sources.

CTE teachers, directors and state department of education representatives from across the country are invited to apply for council membership. For more information, visit certs.comptia.org/comptia-national-advisory-council or comptia.org.