Metropolitan Education District

Press Release

Metropolitan Education District
760 Hillsdale Ave
San Jose, CA 95136
September 20, 2010

Contact: Michelle Alaimo
Communication Specialist
(408) 723-6464
malaimo@metroed.net

CCOC to Host Career Technical Education Trade Conferences for High School Students

Beginning this month, Central County Occupational Center (CCOC) will hold a monthly student Career Technical Education (CTE) conference to give students a "real-world" trade conference experience. The first conference, Arts, Media, & Entertainment, will be held on September 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is for students in CCOC's Animation, Graphic Design, Multimedia, and Video Production programs.

The all day conferences are arranged the same way a professional trade conference would be—complete with experienced guest speakers from each field, breakout sessions, lunch, and networking opportunities with industry professionals. Each month will focus on a different CTE sector that CCOC teaches and only students from that sector will attend the conference. Students normally attend CCOC for half of their school day and attend their home high school for the other half of the day. But for the conferences, students will spend their entire day at CCOC to gain the full experience of attending a trade conference.

The keynote speaker for September's Arts, Media, & Entertainment conference is Debbie Pashkoff from the Academy Award winning Production Company, Rhythm & Hues. Presenters include: Jeff Forehan, a Gold and Platinum award winner who teaches commercial music production; professional stunt coordinator, stunt driver, and stuntman, Mikal Kartvedt; master showman and magician, Jay Alexander; representatives from the film studio Guerilla Wanderers; and graphic design company owner, Sam Ajam.

A Business & Finance Conference for CCOC students in Managerial Accounting, Office/Administrative Assistant, and Small Business Management will be held on October 6. Presentations include: interview skills; banking/investing/budgeting; personal appearance & image; teamwork/team building; customer service; effective communication; sexual harassment; and ethics in the workplace. Students are required to attend the conference in business attire.

CCOC provides CTE programs for high school juniors and seniors from six high school districts: Campbell Union High School District: East Side Union High School District; Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District; Milpitas Unified School District; San Jose Unified School District; and Santa Clara Unified School District.