Education Program Coordinator Suggests Following Your Passion
Dr. Vera Jacobson-Lundeberg is a career & technical education (CTE) program coordinator at San Mateo County Office of Education. She is responsible for leading and supporting career and technical education and related college and career readiness initiatives in the county. Dr. Jacobson-Lundeberg obtained a doctorate in educational leadership for social justice from California State University in June 2013. Previously, she obtained a Master of Arts degree in creative arts from San Francisco State University in June 1998.
What are the scope and responsibilities of your current role?
"The main focus of my position is to provide leadership to public school districts regarding the importance and value of career and technical education. This work requires relationship building, advocacy skills and networking with industry professionals, obtaining strong partnerships between education and industry."
What is your favorite part of your daily duties?
"Linking education and the workforce is vital for the students. In our new high-tech, globalized, knowledge-based world, it is imperative that we open up to the dramatic, rapid paced changes to better serve the needs of the student and the workforce. Also, I enjoy advocacy work and have lobbied locally, statewide and federally, ensuring CTE, a more practical approach to education, is funded and recognized as a valuable educational system."
Do you feel your education prepared you for your current role?
"Yes, but I always viewed my education as my personal learning and felt ownership over every assignment offered to me by the educational professionals. I would encourage all budding students to own their own education from the start and find the path that is satisfying for them."
Do you have any advice for people who desire to pursue a similar career?
"Follow your passion, or to use Joseph Campbell's words, "follow your bliss". I went back to school later in life, discovering the field of education after many other careers. It is a passion of mine to reform education, meeting the needs of all students, helping bring forth a more equitable public educational system."
Michelle Guilbeau is a writer, reviewer, teacher and business owner. She also has experience in school administration, literacy coaching and is proud founder of CraftKitsForKids.com and MichelleGuilbeau.com Michelle enjoys sharing her knowledge of cities, food, travel, education and parenting issues with her readers. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
