Meet champion for military learners and cross-sector collaboration in Louisiana, Quentin Kelly, coordinator of Career & Technical Education at Louisiana Community & Technical College System (LCTCS), and a Fellow in the third cohort of the Postsecondary State CTE Leaders Fellowship at Advance CTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation.

Q: Let’s start with your journey into Career Technical Education (CTE). How did your background shape your path into this field?

A: I consider myself a product of CTE. It all began after high school when I joined the Louisiana Army National Guard, unknowingly marking my initial introduction to CTE. While in the military, I became Military Occupational Specialty Qualified (MOSQ) in two areas: transportation and water treatment. I later transitioned into the Air Force Reserve, continuing my role in transportation and logistics. However, it wasn’t until I started working at Baton Rouge Community College as a Perkins Coordinator that I realized how deeply rooted CTE is and how it exists everywhere.

Access to high-quality work-based learning is a common issue for many states and institutions across the nation. How do you address this challenge at your institution and in Louisiana?

Collaboration between business and industry is crucial, and bringing in collaborators at the local levels during quarterly meetings and advisory board gatherings is essential. In our state, we encourage strong collaboration with business and industry at the grassroots level since I work at the system level. Annually, we host our state postsecondary conference, where all community colleges in the state come together to share best practices. Many of our business and industry partners attend the conference as vendors, sharing valuable resources and insights.

You’ve been vocal about the need to elevate and align postsecondary transitions for military occupational specialties in Louisiana. Why do you think this is such a crucial issue?

All service members go through extensive training to become MOSQed in their specific career fields. Similar to the civilian side, CTE careers exist in the military, and many service members have years of training and hands-on experience. While many service members are thanked for their service, there is often a lack of appreciation shown for their sacrifices.

Currently, in Louisiana, like many other states, service members receive credit for English, math, and foreign languages; however, many CTE programs may not require any of those courses, causing service members to miss the opportunity to gain credit for their prior learning and have to start over from scratch.

This results in service members needing more time to complete their Programs of Study (POS) and access funding. Additionally, with potential budget cuts to higher education in Louisiana and across America, many service members come with guaranteed funding, which can help expand revenue streams for institutions even when state and federal allocations/funding are reduced.

You’ve spoken before about the need to conduct a comprehensive policy analysis and develop a crosswalk between Army Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) and CTE Programs of Study (POS) for pathways that lead to high-wage, high-skill, in-demand occupations. Can you share how this commitment has shaped your leadership and actions in your current role?

In my current role, I am constantly pushing for collaboration among the right partners and the incorporation of learners’ voices. When it’s time to have discussions, it’s crucial to have military personnel in attendance because they are the subject matter experts in their fields. Learners who are service members are the ones most affected by decisions made and should also have a seat at the table.

What do you see as the future of CTE in Louisiana, and what challenges do you think need to be addressed?

The future of CTE in Louisiana looks promising as it continues to develop pathways that ensure learners receive valuable credentials for high-wage, high-demand career paths. Strengthening partnerships between secondary and postsecondary institutions, as well as with businesses and industry, will be crucial to ensure students are learning the skills that meet workforce needs.

However, there are several challenges that need to be addressed, similar to other states around the country.

• One major issue is the shortage of qualified CTE instructors. Many instructors can earn higher salaries working in the industry, so creating partnerships between higher education institutions and business partners to allow their employees to volunteer teaching hours in classrooms could be beneficial.
• Another challenge is securing adequate funding to support students with transportation to internships and apprenticeships, as well as offering paid work-based learning opportunities and stipends. This presents a great opportunity to collaborate with businesses and industry to provide the necessary support for learners in these areas.

You’re clearly passionate about creating long-term change. What advice would you give to others who want to make a difference in CTE and postsecondary participation and attainment?

Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate! Bringing the right people to the table is essential for success, along with effective communication among all parties. Meeting and communicating regularly is vital to share stories of barriers broken and successes achieved.

As a participant in Advance CTE’s national Fellowship, what do you hope to gain from this experience?

I hope to establish a strong network foundation that I can rely on, and that they can lean on me for support, guidance, and assistance as needed. Additionally, I hope to bring back best practices to the state and share with others.

Quentin’s journey to CTE leadership highlights a dedication to and enthusiasm for connecting military veterans to postsecondary CTE opportunities. His insights are just one example of the incredible work being done by the fellows of the Advance CTE National Fellowship. To learn more about Quentin and other inspiring leadership fellows, visit the Postsecondary State CTE Leaders Fellowship page, where Fellows share strategies for increasing access to high-quality CTE programming and connecting education outcomes to industry demands. 

Interested in developing your own CTE leadership fellowship in your state? Request more information via our request form or contact Dr. Kevin R. Johnson Sr. at [email protected].