Lisa Wicoff was tidying up her classroom last Friday — “We dissected sheep brains on Wednesday, and we extracted DNA today,” she clarified — as students were clearing out for Thanksgiving break.
But Wicoff is also busy preparing for her new role at Allen Community College, effective Jan. 2: Dean of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Business and Industry Partnerships. It’s a brand-new position and a real mouthful, but the premise is simple: help prepare students for a changing career landscape.
It’s a natural progression for Wicoff, who, after serving as USD 257’s career and technical education coordinator, began as an Allen instructor of biology and anatomy and physiology this fall. “I’m excited about the change,” said Wicoff. “A little nervous, too.”
Wicoff’s interest in CTE dates back to her days as a graduate student at Fort Hays State University. Her academic work focused on how to help special education students transition into stable, well-paying jobs. “I realized it’s really fun to talk to students about their interests and what they want to do,” said Wicoff. “And as I learned more and more, I started attending CTE conferences. I found out I really enjoyed it.”
IN HER new position, Wicoff will help build Allen’s career and tech programs and create new ones. She understands how vital community input is for success.
“Everything starts with a survey of area needs,” explained Wicoff. “We look at high-need, high-wage technical programs. Before we can say what we’re going to do or what programs we bring in, we gather information and base decisions on that. It takes a lot of community input. We have to get people involved from the start. It’s not Allen driven. It’s community driven.”
After all, no one knows what tomorrow’s economy will look like. What role will artificial intelligence play in careers of the future? How quickly will we transition to clean energy and the electric car? Big questions remain unanswered; new ones will arise.
So in Wicoff’s mind, her new role at Allen isn’t about chasing certain hot careers or job markets. “CTE changes so fast. By the time you have a program developed and approved, has the need dried up? You have to forecast out, and that’s better done by people working in the field, not academics.”
SUCCESS, Wicoff believes, will be found in designing academic programs that equip students to explore multiple options. “Equipment is expensive,” said Wicoff, “and if instructors are too pigeon-holed, students are too. We have to look broader.”
Many business leaders, Wicoff says, tell her they can train new employees on the job. What they can’t teach are the soft skills, the grit, perseverance, and curiosity that are key to success.
And so as Wicoff considers how to grow Allen’s CTE offerings, she’s settled on two key criteria. First, community needs. Is there a need from local business, industry and government? And second: quality instructors.
“It’s hard to recruit,” said Wicoff. “Many potential instructors make more in the field than they can as instructors.” But without great teachers, Wicoff knows students won’t enroll. “We can’t just offer students a shiny new building. If we don’t find the right instructors, that’s not something I want to pursue.”
WICOFF, who grew up in Iola, has a vested interest in making sure Allen’s CTE programs prepare students with skills for a variety of careers.
“I’ve been thinking about this stuff for a long time. I want to build a community where my kids will come home to. All along the way, I’ve been thinking about that. We have to create those opportunities,” said Wicoff.
She’s also a proponent of starting those conversations early. Wicoff currently teaches three afternoons a week at SAFE BASE, USD 257’s after-school program.
