Wednesday, March 30, marked Lisa Aragon’s first day as interim superintendent of the Valley Academy of Career and Technology Education, replacing recently resigned VACTE Superintendent Lois Lamer.
By accepting the $25,000, three-month contract, Aragon ended her 13-year career with Snowflake’s Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology. For the last eight years, she acted as that Joint Technical Education District’s assistant superintendent.
Despite ample experience, Aragon admitted being a bit wide-eyed at all of the changes resulting from her new position overseeing much of the career and technical education for the Verde Valley’s high schools.
“My learning curve is straight up,” she said, laughing. “But I’m excited about applying my
experience …. I’m trying to get a feel for what everyone wants. A lot of people are going to have different ideas.”
Regardless of the humble stance, Aragon has committed herself to the area by moving from Holbrook to Cottonwood. Should Aragon and VACTE find an agreeable working relationship, she stands a good chance of being hired on as the permanent superintendent of the organization.
Whatever the outcome, Aragon said she will assist VACTE in making “positive changes and keeping what works” — a vow that reflects her unequivocal belief that JTEDs are going to have to change to remain viable in the state.
“Statewide, legislators don’t feel JTEDs are doing a good enough job.” Aragon said. “They want us to be accountable for what we say we’re doing.
According to Aragon, there is clear data to support claims that JTEDs are working well, graduating students from high school at a higher rate than average and allowing them greater access to high-paying jobs, but many remain unaware of how JTEDs work, collaborating with schools and colleges to provide career and
technology education opportunities.
Aragon said that part of the problem is the humble outlook of JTED administrators and teachers: Though integral to helping students move toward college and careers, JTEDs are loathe to talk themselves up.
“We work behind the scenes,” Aragon explained. “But by not taking some of the glory, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot …. We haven’t done a good enough job tooting our own horns.”
Aragon added that while she does not know the nature or extent of the changes that will be forced on JTEDS, including VACTE, her outlook remains positive: “The accountability system is not a bad thing. It will make things better.”
