WORCESTER – Tuesday, August 15, 2023 – The governor of the state of Piaui, Brazil, is so impressed with Worcester Technical High School’s career technical education model that he traveled to the school with a large delegation on Tuesday.
Governor Rafael T. Fonteles is interested in replicating the career technical education format in hundreds of public high schools in Piaui, where most secondary schools are operated by the state.
In Piaui, the economy needs skilled workers in the areas of clean energy, construction, and information technology. The state is home to one of the largest wind energy producers in Brazil.
Antonio Sousa Carvalho, a grade 11 Worcester Tech student from Piaui, was on hand to greet the delegation, along with several other Brazilian students who attend Worcester Tech.
Worcester Technical High School offers 22 career majors for students – ranging from advanced manufacturing to biotechnology to web development. Students study academics for one week, and then get hands-on learning in their career majors the following week.
As a result of the visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed to promote collaboration between Worcester Tech and the economic division of the Piaui state government.
Also in attendance were Dr. Rachel Monárrez, Worcester Public Schools Superintendent; Drew Weymouth, Principal of Worcester Technical High School; Robert LePage, Massachusetts Assistant Secretary of Education for Career Technical Education; Sue Mailman, Worcester School Committee member and Worcester Tech advisory committee member; and Steve Sharek, Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators Executive Director.
