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Date: 8/25/2021
CHICOPEE – Carl Ingram is entering his first year as Career and Technical Education (Tech Ed) Director for the Chicopee district.
“The school has played a big part for the majority of my life,” said Ingram. Before he even graduated high school, Ingram said he was working as a teaching co-op from the age of 16. Once he graduated from the Chicopee Comprehensive High School drafting program in 1988, Ingram earned a degree from Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and University of Massachusetts Amherst in mechanical engineering.
From there, he began his 25-year career in education as a substitute drafting instructor in 1993. After serving in that role for 12 years, he then worked as an Academic Career Technological Education Coordinator for another 12 years. As he approaches his new role, Ingram continues to work as an adjunct professor at STCC while also moonlighting as a house plan designer.
Ingram said that his passion for the Career and Tech Ed field originated from his own experiences in the department as a student. “I wasn’t a superstar in school, but once I got in the drafting program and did well in it, I blossomed,” said Ingram. He shared that the programs allowed him to excel in high-level math courses, as well as getting involved with technology during the advent of computers.
Those enriching experiences are a gift that Ingram said he wants to pass on to a new generation of students. “My big mission is to try and provide the students with an educational experience closely mirrored to industry experiences… so kids can make informed decisions about their future,” said Ingram. Preparing students in terms of academics and skillset for post-high school success is an essential goal according to Ingram.
One way Ingram hopes to accomplish this is through stackable credentials, which gives students the chance to add specialized learning on top of their degrees. Certifications in cybersecurity essentials, teamwork and interview skills are among the vast opportunities Ingram said he looks to offer to students. “These stackable credentials help kids find out more about themselves and what they are good at. We want students to take courses that are in sequence to prepare them for the occupational area they’ll go in,” said Ingram.
As Ingram approaches the opening of schools, he said the diversity of challenges keeps him excited for his new role. “Every day is different…in any given day I can be dealing with inspecting a van to talking to teachers about resume building for students. It keeps me coming back for more,” said Ingram.