Volume 5, Issue 1 (lFALL 2026)

The Fall semester is underway!! This newsletter is full of information as you begin the semester and another school year. Winter and Spring registrations will be here before you know it! Packed in this issue is information about upcoming dates to be aware of, course offerings, new roles for our faculty within our department, information on additional certification opportunities, what you need to know for observations and student teaching, and more. Check out the CTE articles in the news, and other highlights as well! Faculty information and contacts are at the end.

On a very celebratory note, our CTE Department is thriving with it's highest enrollment ever. There are currently over 215 students in the department working on Bachelors and Master's Degrees. That number does not include the number of students who have come to us for Work Based Learning credentials, for Driver's Education credentials, or as non-degree students working on individual pathway certification which number is well over 200!

Happy reading!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR 26-27

Fall Registration is complete and courses are full! See the academic calendar for all of the semester dates.

https://www.oswego.edu/registrar/academic-calendar

Drops and Withdrawals - Sometimes life happens and you need to drop or withdraw from a course before completion. There are timelines on when you can do these actions and what your financial liability is for doing so - please read this information: https://ww1.oswego.edu/registrar/cancellation-drops-and-withdrawals

Winter course offerings will be viewable on September 21st & registration begins October 5.

We will be offering 1 course for graduate students during the Winter Session - CTE 525. Pleases note, this course will not be offered again until Fall of 2027. Please be sure to take it if you are going to need it prior to then!

Spring semester courses will be viewable on October 5, & registration begins on October 19.
- Please contact your advisor to determine what courses you should be taking - DO NOT just register for courses that you think you should take; be sure they are the correct ones by checking with your advisor!

GRADUATION INFORMATION

GRADUATION IN THE NEXT YEAR? You need to apply to graduate - there is a link in your DEGREE WORKS - check now to see when you need to apply and how to go about it: https://ww1.oswego.edu/registrar/apply-graduate. Scroll down to be sure to see dates for Graduates and Undergraduates.

Applying for Graduation Deadlines:

*May '2027 Graduation

Dates to apply online: April 1, 2026 to Oct. 1, 2026
Deadline to return Senior Check Forms: Dec. 1, 2026 (Undergrads only)

*August 2027 Graduation
Dates to apply online: April 1, 2026 to Feb. 1, 2027
Deadline to return Senior Check Forms: April 1, 2027 (Undergrads only)

THINGS TO DO! Please check this!!

EVERYONE (Graduate and Undergraduate):

CHECK YOUR DEGREE WORKS - Whenever you have an advisement appointment with your Advisor, please get onto your degree works from your computer; your advisor will also be on your degree works at the same time. This allows you and your advisor to literally "be on the same page." Degree Works is found in your myoswego account. This is the place that all of the courses you are supposed take are listed as well as requirements for graduation. It is a computerized version of your progress and it's important that we all keep track of this to be sure items are being completed appropriately and timely! Remember, you have an advisor, but ultimately your progress and success are up to you!

IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT

We have been busy! We have Role Changes and Program Changes that are new to our Department this semester!

ROLE CHANGES:

Department Chair: Dr. Jan Woodworth
Graduate: Coordinator: Dr. Star Matteson
Undergraduate Coordinator: Dr. Cynthia Thomas
OCE Coordinator: Dr. Benjamin Ogwo

Please be sure to contact the correct person as you reach out for assistance. THANKS!

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PROGRAM CHANGES:

Over the past several years, we have been working to update our Graduate and Undergraduate programs. Over the summer we were notified that another one of our program changes has been approved and is being fully implemented beginning this current semester, Fall 2026, while two others are still moving through the approval process.

Changes that have been approved

Graduate

We have added a new program: Workforce Education and Development MSEd (WED). This is be the first program in our department that does not lead to certification. It is designed for those who wish to teach at a post-secondary institution or in the business world in some capacity, but do not need a teaching certification. We have already enrolled several students in this program and are looking forward to watching it grow.

Changes in Progress

Undergraduate:

We are working on adding a Computer Science Education Classroom certification grades K-12, Bachelors Degree to allow us to certify teachers under the new computer science regulations from SED. (Approval to create this program has been granted at all levels on campus; we are waiting for final State approval)

Graduate:

We have applied to add a Computer Science Education Classroom certification grades K-12, MSEd to allow us to certify teachers under the new computer science regulations from SED. (Approval to create this program has been granted at all levels on campus; we are waiting for final State approval)

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO DO OTHER THAN MY CLASSES?

All students who graduate from CTE at either the graduate or undergraduate levels must have:

SSHS 1020
DASA 1020

Safe Schools, Healthy Students (SSHS) and Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) are professional development workshops administered through SUNY Oswego's Division of Extended Learning in support of degrees conferred through the School of Education.

SSHS 1020 is made up of 6 workshops and is taught in an online format. It costs $200.

DASA 1020 is made up of one workshop and is taught in an online format. It costs $90.

You can register for both of these any semester - they are both offered online! They both MUST be taken before you can student teach.

NOTE: If you have already taken DASA somewhere else, you can make a copy of your certificate, write your ID number on it and send it to the Registrar. It will then be added to your degree works and fulfill the requirement for graduation. You do not have to retake it.

SSHS 1020 MUST be taken at SUNY OSWEGO! It contains 6 workshops that are required for graduation and certification. If you have taken some of them, we cannot pull those out of SSHS 1020 - you MUST take the whole thing.

For more information, go to: https://ww1.oswego.edu/extended-learning/dasa-and-safe-schools

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OBSERVATION/FIELD EXPERIENCE HOURS

BEFORE YOU CAN STUDENT TEACH, you must complete a minimum of 100 hours of observations (field experience) in NYS Public Schools. This is a NYSED requirement. We embed those hours into your courses with us (approx. 15 hours/course). The Clinical Practice and Partnerships Office coordinates the field experiences and every student MUST fill out the information they require each semester.

FOR THOSE TAKING ANY OF THESE COURSES YOU MUST FILL OUT THE QUESTIONAIRRE EVERY SEMESTER: (You need to do this even if you are teaching or don't need the field experience)

CTE 307 or 507
CTE 309 or 509
CTE 312 or 512
CTE 313 or 513
CTE 315 or 514
CTE 525
CTE 444 or 544
CTE 445 or 545

Here is the link: https://ww1.oswego.edu/field-placement-office/ (scroll down to the green box and click on CTE Field Experience)

There is also more information below that if you have questions.

STUDENT TEACHING

Student teaching applications are due the semester prior to student teaching. They are handled by the Clinical Practice and Partnerships Office (CPP) and you can find the application here: https://ww1.oswego.edu/field-placement-office/ (Scroll down to the green block and click on CTE Student teaching.

The Application for CTE for Spring of 2027 (that is the student teaching semester) is open and needs to be submitted between September 6th and October 18)

The application includes a resume and cover letter among other things. Also be sure to have your completed and signed observation sheets ready to be submitted with the application (if you need until the end of the semester to complete those hours, submit what you have done and let them know the rest will be in by the end of the semester, and submit the last of them when they are complete)

IMPORTANT NOTES

If you would like to see previous issues of this newsletter, The CTE Educator, check out our website: https://www.oswego.edu/vocational/cte-faqs (scroll to the bottom of the page)

All email communications with SUNY faculty/staff should be done using your oswego.edu email. This is for security reasons. Please be sure to link your oswego account to whatever account you use most frequently so you do not miss important information!

Looking for a teaching job? We highly recommend using OLAS (https://www.olasjobs.org/). Additionally, we have a listing of open teaching positions that have been sent to us directly from school districts (https://www.oswego.edu/vocational/cte-job-vacancies)

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS TO ENHANCE YOUR RESUME

You can add a certification or two to your resume making yourself more marketable and more flexible as a teacher and an employee! Our department has both of these opportunities for you to explore:

WORK BASED LEARNING

With the implementation of "Portrait of a Graduate" in NYS bringing changing graduation requirements, schools are going to be looking for more certified WBL coordinators. 6 credit program.

Work Based Learning information
Contact Dr. Cynthia Thomas for more information

DRIVERS EDUCATION

New York State is experiencing a growing demand for certified Driver and Traffic Safety Educators. SUNY Oswego's flexible, hybrid certification program prepares you to meet the demand in less than 12 months. 12 credit program.

Drivers Education Information
Contact Prof. Ron Alexander for more information

Professional Development Opportunities!

Although Conferences and workshops in person are wonderful opportunities for professional development, it is not always possible to get away for many reasons. That doesn't mean professional development opportunities are all lost. Consider some of the webinars offered by CTE TAC (CTE Technical Assistance Center), ACTE (Association of Career and Technical Educators) and other professional organization and more! Check out this opportunities:

NYS Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center (CTE TAC)

What is CTE TAC?

The Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center (CTE TAC) operates under a state contract to assist the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in carrying out its mission of improving the quality, access, and delivery of career and technical education through research-based methods and strategies resulting in broader CTE opportunities for all students. This is all done at no cost to schools or teachers.

CTE TAC offers many services, assistance and professional development for CTE teachers and programs. Please reach out to them if have any questions and check out their website for what they provide that can help you!

NYS CTE TAC

CTE PROFESSOR HIGHLIGHT - Dr. Jan Woodworth, Department Chair

Each edition we will feature a different professor in the department in an effort for you to get to know us better:

This edition we are featuring Dr. Jan Woodworth, new CTE Department Chair. Some of you may remember that she was previously the Graduate Coordinator for CTE; as noted above, our roles/responsibilities have changed!

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Dr. Jan Held Woodworth received her Bachelor's degree, Master's Degree and Ph.D from Cornell University in Agriculture, Agriculture Education, and Agriculture, Extension and Adult Education, respectively.

Dr. Woodworth began her career as a high school Agriculture teacher in school districts in Orange County, NY, and Jefferson County, NY, also serving in several leadership roles in the Agriculture Teachers professional organization, now call NYAAE, including President. During that time she was was awarded the NYS Outstanding Young Agriculture Teacher award and served as one of the first women in the state in that role.

Once her Doctoral degree was complete, Dr. Woodworth taught part-time at Cornell University and Syracuse University before taking on a full time role at Morrisville State College. In 2001, she began at SUNY Oswego as an adjunct Professor in the Vocational Teacher Preparation department (now called CTEP); she moved into a tenured role and is now an Associate Professor in the department.

Dr. Woodworth has worked in education for more than 40 years and is a fierce advocate for CTE programs and workforce education. Through her tenure she has been part of updating all of our programs, serving as both undergraduate and graduate coordinator, Occupational Competency Exam coordinator, and as the founder and coordinator of the CTE Certificate Program at SUNY Oswego. She has participated in search committees for faculty and staff both within our department and in other departments and has served on multiple College of Education, Health and Humans Services committees and well as full campus committees. She was the Chair of the Faculty Council for 4 years, as well. She has presented workshops at the state and national levels regarding certification of CTE teachers, recruitment and retention of CTE teachers, and the need for CTE in the education world. Students come first for Dr. Woodworth. She enjoys working with and helping students as they find their place in CTE and work to achieve their goals in that world. She has received mentorship awards on campus and at the state and national levels.

Outside of her professional life Dr. Woodworth has served on a local school board for the past 16 years, serving as President for 5 of those years. She is a representative on the Rural Schools Association Board, supporting and advocating for the needs of rural school districts in NYS. She is also the collegiate representative on the NY Association of Agriculture Education board and is on multiple advisory committees for school districts and BOCES.

Dr. Woodworth and her husband have a draft horse farm called Lamplit Farm and have a part-time draft horse drawn ride business serving central NY. They also have 3 adult children (one of whom is a HS Agriculture Teacher herself), 2 son-in-laws, and 3 grandchildren.

FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION

Need to contact us? Here is how you can do so:

Dr. Jan Woodworth - Department Chair and Professor and Associate Professor

jan.woodworth@oswego.edu

315-312-2298

Dr. Benjamin Ogwo – OCE Coordinator and Professor

benjamin.ogwo@oswego.edu

Dr. Star Matteson – Graduate Coordinator and Assistant Professor
star.mattteson@oswego.edu

dr-matteson.youcanbook.me for appointments

Dr. Cynthia Thomas - Undergraduate Coordinator, WBL Coordinator and Assistant Professor
cynthia.thomas@oswego.edu

Dr. Donna Matteson - Professor

donna.matteson@oswego.edu

Erin Leary - Administrative Assistant
315-312- 2480
cte@oswego.edu