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Testimony – Genevieve Whitaker, JD, MCJ, MPM CPM® Executive Director, Virgin Islands Career for Technical Education Board Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Hearing October 31, 2025, | Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Chamber, St. Croix VIRGIN ISLANDS BOARD FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION 2 Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Hearing Testimony, Executive Director, Genevieve Whitaker October 31, 2025 1 Good day, Honorable Senator Angel Bolques Jr., Chairman of the Committee, 2 Vice Chair Senator Carla Joseph, other members of the 36th Legislature of the 3 Virgin Islands, fellow testifiers, and members of the listening and viewing 4 audience: Introduction 5 I am Genevieve Whitaker, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Career & 6 Technical Education Board (VIBCTE), having officially begun my tenure on 7 October 6, 2025. I am honored to appear before you today to discuss the critical 8 role of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in addressing the opportunity 9 gaps facing our youth and sharing the Board’s vision for a more equitable and 10 empowered future. Additionally, I am joined by Board Member 11 and Secretary, Mr. Anthony Mardenborough, Jr. Our youth are navigating a 12 landscape shaped by economic uncertainty, educational disparities, and 13 limited access to meaningful career pathways. CTE is not merely a program—it 14 is a transformative framework that equips students with skills, confidence, and 15 direction to thrive in today’s workforce and tomorrow’s economy. Since 16 assuming this role, I have prioritized listening, collaboration, and 17 action. I have met with CTE instructors across both districts participated both 18 AFT TEACH events (AFT TEACH, St. Thomas-St. John Local 1825 and AFT TEACH 19 St. Croix Local 1826, and initiated internal communications to bridge 20 longstanding divides. My staff and I have been actively organizing stakeholders 21 meetings, several of which I have already held, to ensure that our efforts reflect 22 the voices and needs of our educators, students, and community partners. 3 Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Hearing Testimony, Executive Director, Genevieve Whitaker October 31, 2025 State of CTE in the Virgin Islands 23 CTE programs in the Virgin Islands span high-demand sectors such as: • Health Sciences (CNA, LPN, Phlebotomy, Medical Massage Therapy) • Information Technology and Cybersecurity • Culinary Arts and Hospitality • Automotive and Construction Trades • Business and Finance 24 These offerings are available across both the St. Croix and St. Thomas–St. John 25 districts. For example, the Raphael O. Wheatley Skill Center offers a range of 26 programs including: • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) • Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) • Medical Administrative Assistant & Billing and Coding Specialist • Patient Care Technician (PCT) • Phlebotomy • Practical Nursing (LPN) • Programs in Human Services, Hospitality & Tourism, Information Technology, Transportation & Logistics, and Architecture & Construction 27 Additionally, the St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC) offers 28 post-secondary evening courses for adult learners in areas such as: • Cosmetology • NCCER Core • Electricity I–IV • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) • Commercial Baking & Cake Decoration • HVAC • Phlebotomy • CDA Child Care • Clothing Construction 4 Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Hearing Testimony, Executive Director, Genevieve Whitaker October 31, 2025 • Automotive Technology • Electric Vehicles Recent Progress and Innovation 29 Despite longstanding challenges, the Board has made significant strides: • Reinstated the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS), including the first adult chapter. • Expanded the use of virtual reality career exploration tools, including the relaunch of TransferVR Goggles to bring immersive learning into classrooms. • Increased instructor certification rates increased from 15% to over 70% in five years. • Implemented a CTE Certification Portal to streamline instructor credentialing. Challenges and Barriers 30 We continue to face systemic challenges: • Instructor Shortages: Many instructors are nearing retirement, and recruitment is difficult due to competitive industry salaries. • Infrastructure Deficits: Facilities and equipment are outdated, limiting hands-on learning and on the job training. • Digital Divide: Schools lack reliable internet, impeding access to virtual tools and platforms. • Funding Constraints: Budget reallocations have reduced our operating funds, impacting program delivery. 5 Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Hearing Testimony, Executive Director, Genevieve Whitaker October 31, 2025 Funding Request 31 We are again requesting an appropriation of $600,000 to establish the “Ms. Lena Schulterbrandt CTE Fund”, a request that has been presented to the 32 Legislature during the last two budget cycles, including our testimony in June 33 2025. This fund is essential to advancing our mission and will support: • Hiring journeymen and specialists as part-time instructors. • Paid internships and apprenticeships for high school students. • Emergency equipment repairs and instructional support. • CTSO participated through an 80/20 cost-sharing model. • Professional certification and appreciation initiatives for instructors. • Development of a shared CTE Data Dashboard to track student outcomes and guide policy. • Launch of a WorldSkills USVI chapter to expose students to global skill standards. • Expansion of school-based and on-the-job training opportunities, ensuring students gain real-world experience in high-demand fields. • Strengthening partnerships with the business community, including employer sponsorships and collaborative workforce development initiatives. • Continued support for Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), which play a vital role in developing student leadership, fostering career readiness, and providing opportunities for national competition and recognition. These organizations are essential to building confidence, professionalism, and real-world skills among our youth, and require consistent funding to ensure equitable access and participation across districts. 6 Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Hearing Testimony, Executive Director, Genevieve Whitaker October 31, 2025 Strategic Initiatives Underway 34 As part of our immediate roadmap, we are: • Mapping career clusters and expanding pathways in STEM, Legal Studies, Renewable Energy, Marine Trades, and Agribusiness. • Initiating dual enrollment discussions with UVI and VI Tech College. • Conducting a staff skills audit and planning quarterly professional development workshops. • Enhancing communications through a revamped website, monthly newsletters, and social media outreach. • Building partnerships with employers to develop structured apprenticeships and internship pipelines. • Formalizing interagency collaborations and regional partnerships to position the Virgin Islands as a leader in Caribbean CTE innovation. Policy Recommendations • To strengthen CTE-to-career pipelines across the territory, I recommend: o Legislative support for expanding CTE infrastructure and staffing. o Incentives for employer partnerships and school-based apprenticeships. o Integration of CTE with academic curricula to reduce redundancy and improve alignment. o Territory-wide data collection and analysis to inform future investments. 7 Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Hearing Testimony, Executive Director, Genevieve Whitaker October 31, 2025 Supporting Statistics 35 According to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Career and Technical Education (CTE) produce strong, evidence-based outcomes for students nationwide: • The average high school graduation rate for CTE concentrators who complete multiple courses within a CTE program area—is 96%, compared to the national average of 85%. • In 2024, 152 state-level policies were enacted across 40 states to expand and strengthen CTE programs, reflecting bipartisan support for workforce and education alignment. • Dropout Reduction: CTE participation is strongly associated with reduced dropout rates and improved student engagement. Sources: Association for Career and Technical Education. CTE Works! Fact Sheet (February 2024). https://www.acteonline.org/wp- content/uploads/2024/02/ACTE_CTEWorks_FactSheet_Feb2024.pdf Advance CTE & ACTE. State Policies Impacting CTE: 2024 Year in Review (February 2025). https://careertech.org/wp- content/uploads/2025/02/CTE_2024YIR_02_022025.pdf 36 These outcomes underscore the vital role of CTE in preparing students for post- 37 secondary education, high-demand careers, and long-term economic success. 8 Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Hearing Testimony, Executive Director, Genevieve Whitaker October 31, 2025 Conclusion 38 CTE is not a separate track—it is a vital, integrated component of a 39 comprehensive education system. By investing in CTE, we are investing in the 40 future of our youth and the economic resilience of the Virgin Islands. I urge this 41 Committee to support our funding requests and policy recommendations to 42 ensure that every student has access to the tools, training, and opportunities 43 they need to succeed. Before I conclude my testimony, I want to express my 44 deep gratitude to our dedicated staff. Their unwavering commitment and day- 45 to-day excellence makes this work possible, in advancing Career and Technical 46 Education (CTE). I also extend my sincere appreciation to our Board Members, 47 whose diligence, leadership, and vision continue to move CTE forward for the 48 benefit of our students, employers, and communities. I also want to 49 acknowledge all our local CTE leaders across the Territory—our Principals, 50 Coordinators, programs and department Chairs—whose leadership and 51 advocacy ensure that CTE remains a priority in every school and program. 52 And, I commend our CTE student leaders and students at large for their 53 determination and passion to pursue their education and credentials. Your 54 efforts inspire us and drive this mission forward. Thank you for your time and continued commitment to our youth. I remain available to answer any questions you may have.