Resources
Tools, Insights, and Frameworks for CTE and Workforce Leaders.
I've spent over 30 years building programs, navigating policy, and learning what actually works. This is where I share it.
Why I Built This
One of the things I hear most from school leaders is that they don't have time to go looking for good information. So I'm putting the most useful things I've found — and created — in one place. Articles, frameworks, presentations, and tools that I actually use in my work.
Featured
Start Here
What Makes a CTE Program Actually Work: Lessons from 30 Years in the Field
The difference between a CTE program that opens doors and one that just fills seats comes down to a few key factors. Here's what I've learned about building programs that stick.
Building Employer Partnerships That Last: A Practical Guide for Districts
Employer advisory councils, internship pipelines, and work-based learning programs all depend on trust. This framework walks through how to build and sustain those relationships.
In the Press
Featured Coverage
Mashpee STEM Teacher Named to Mass. Governor's Council
Michael P. Looney was appointed to Governor Deval Patrick's 28-member Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Advisory Council — one of only two classroom teachers named to the body, alongside the state STEM Teacher of the Year. The appointment recognized Looney's decade-plus of work building STEM pathways at Mashpee High School and his role helping develop the commonwealth's first statewide STEM education framework for pre-K through high school.
Filling a Need: Ambulance Simulator Prepares Mashpee Students for High-Demand Medical Jobs
Mashpee Middle-High School installed Cape Cod's only ambulance simulator — a $40,000 grant-funded facility equipped with a control station, two-way radio, and four HD cameras — to train students for the region's growing health care workforce. Michael Looney, director of Career and Technical Education, partnered with MassHire to identify a projected need for 3,000+ regional health care positions by 2024, and placed students in dual-enrollment EMT coursework through Cape Cod Community College.
Exploring the Workforce: Mashpee Students Benefit from Internship Experiences
Michael P. Looney, the school district's director of career and technical education, works with high school seniors to place them into paid and unpaid internships and helps them make decisions about entering the workforce, the military, or college after graduation.
First Director of Career and Technical Education Will Retire After 22 Years
Michael P. Looney Sr. — the first director of career and technical education in Mashpee Public Schools history — will retire this summer after 22 years of service. Looney built CTE pathways from the ground up, secured a $250,000 grant to create the Paul A. Funk Health Careers Learning Center, and represented the district on national stages through his partnership with MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board.
All Resources
Navigating Chapter 74 Approval in Massachusetts: What Schools Need to Know
The Chapter 74 approval process is complex — but it's navigable. This guide covers the key requirements, common pitfalls, and how to build a strong application.
CTE Strategic Planning Template for Districts
A working template I use with districts to build multi-year CTE strategic plans — including goal-setting, stakeholder mapping, and progress tracking.
Perkins V Funding: How to Make the Most of Your Allocation
Perkins V gives districts real flexibility — but most aren't using it strategically. Here's how to align your Perkins plan with your broader CTE goals.
Equity in CTE: Moving Beyond Compliance to Real Access
Equity in CTE isn't just about enrollment numbers. It's about whether every student — regardless of background — has access to programs that lead somewhere meaningful.
Cape Cod & the Islands Workforce Trends: What Schools Need to Know
A look at the regional workforce landscape — the industries growing, the skills in demand, and what that means for CTE program planning on the Cape.
Work-Based Learning Program Launch Checklist
Everything you need to have in place before launching a work-based learning program — from employer agreements to student preparation to liability coverage.
Finding and Writing CTE Grants: A Starter Guide for School Leaders
Grant funding for CTE programs is out there — but finding it and writing for it takes a system. This guide walks through the process I use with districts.
Making the Case for CTE Investment: A Framework for District Leaders
How to build the internal case for CTE investment — with the data, narratives, and stakeholder strategies that move school boards and superintendents.
Have a Topic You'd Like Me to Cover?
I'm always adding to this library based on what schools are actually asking me. If there's a topic you'd find useful, let me know.
Or reach out directly if you want to talk through a specific challenge.