CTE Student Organizations

Illinois Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (ICCCTSO)

The ICCCTSO’s mission is to enhance student learning and career exploration through contextual instruction, personal and leadership development, applied learning and real-world application. For questions related to the ICCCTSO, please contact Marta Lockwood This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The purposes of this organization shall be:

To provide for the development and expansion of career and technical student organizations as an integral part of the total career and technical education curriculum.
To develop a leadership program for state officers of career and technical student organizations.
To promote and provide in-service education for career and technical student organizations, local advisors, and potential advisors.
To promote and provide in-service education for teacher education institutions or agencies which are training teachers to be advisors of local career and technical student organizations.
To develop a program designed to promote statewide career and technical student organizations and thereby increase student enrollments in Career and Technical Education.
To accumulate, develop, and disseminate materials that will assist all local advisors of career and technical student organizations.
To develop, plan, and promote activities to increase support from school boards, administrators, and professional staff members for career and technical student organizations.

Executive Director: Eric Hill

SkillsUSA Illinois Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SkillsUSA Illinois Website: http://www.skillsusaillinois.org/

Mission of SkillsUSA Illinois: SkillsUSA’s mission is to “empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.”

Expanded Description of SkillsUSA Illinois: SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.

This mission statement explains why SkillsUSA exists, sharing the ultimate goal for the organization of preparing career-ready students who will excel at work, succeed in life and become assets to their communities. It is critical to ensure each member understands his or her value and purpose while being connected to the in-demand careers that can foster economic security for a lifetime.

The mission of developing career-ready students is defined through the SkillsUSA Framework. Based on research from over 1,000 employers, the Framework identifies skills that are essential for success in the workplace and life. It is comprised of three components: Personal, Workplace and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics. Within those components are 17 Essential Elements (skills) that every member should possess for career success. Since its inception in 1965, SkillsUSA has been an integral part of career and technical education. Career success is achieved when Framework instruction is taught and reinforced through active participation, coaching and feedback in the classroom, chapter and workplace. Students make the connection between what they are learning today and the world of work by using these three locations as laboratories for applied learning.

SkillsUSA chapters provide rich, meaningful experiences in six categories that make up the Program of Work (PoW). A well-planned PoW provides intentional instruction of the Framework Essential Elements along with active participation in diverse chapter activities that bring relevancy to the student’s future. While the PoW is a chapter management tool, it is more importantly about individual member growth and development. It is the ultimate tool to engage members. The activities of the PoW allow students to define, develop and demonstrate the Essential Elements.

SkillsUSA measures and recognizes member success through a variety of assessments in the classroom and the SkillsUSA chapter.

Executive Director: Mindy Bunselmeyer

Illinois FFA Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Illinois FFA Website: https://www.ilaged.org/

Mission of Illinois FFA: FFA is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Expanded Description of Illinois FFA: FFA develops members’ potential and helps them discover their talent through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success. Members are future chemists, veterinarians, government officials, entrepreneurs, bankers, international business leaders, teachers and premier professionals in many career fields.

FFA is an intra-curricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. It is one of the three components of agricultural education. The official name of the organization is the Illinois Association FFA. The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America. These letters are a part of our history and our heritage.

FFA is not just for students who want to be production farmers; FFA also welcomes members who aspire to careers as teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more. FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of agricultural career pathways.

So today, we are still the Future Farmers of America, but we are the Future Biologists, Future Chemists, Future Veterinarians, Future Engineers and Future Entrepreneurs of America, too. Today, the National FFA Organization remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Our members live the motto Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live and Living to Serve. FFA members rise to the challenge of service embracing members of all walks of life united through FFA.

Executive Director: Chris Merrill

Illinois TSA Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Illinois TSA Website: http://www.iltsa.org/

Mission of Illinois TSA: The mission of the Technology Student Association is to prepare our membership for the challenges of a dynamic world by promoting technological literacy, leadership, and problem solving, resulting in personal growth and opportunity.

Illinois TSA Creed: I believe that Technology Education holds an important place in my life in the technical world. I believe there is a need for the development of good attitudes concerning work, tools, materials, experimentation, and processes of industry. Guided by my teachers, artisans from industry, and my own initiative, I will strive to do my best in making my school, community, state, and nation better places in which to live. I will accept the responsibilities that are mine. I will accept the theories that are supported by proper evidence. I will explore on my own for safer, more effective methods of working and living. I will strive to develop a cooperative attitude and will exercise tact and respect for other individuals. Through the work of my hands and mind, I will express my ideas to the best of my ability. I will make it my goal to do better each day the task before me, and to be steadfast in my belief in my God, and my fellow Americans.

Expanded Description of Illinois TSA: The Illinois Technology Student Association (IL-TSA) was chartered in 1978 and is one of the oldest Career and Technical Education (CTE) student chapters in the world. Illinois TSA is a non-profit student organization devoted to teaching technology education to young people. IL-TSA's mission is to inspire its student members to prepare for careers in a technology-driven economy and culture. IL-TSA teachers strive to promote technological literacy, leadership, community and school service, and problem solving to their student membership.

Involvement in TSA benefits teachers as well. Relating class activities to local, regional, state and national competitive events can be highly motivational for students. The natural interaction between teachers and students can be utilized to develop an excellent learning climate, while working toward goals.

IL-TSA is the only CTE student organization dedicated exclusively to students enrolled in technology education classes grades K-12. At the national level, TSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, many state education agencies, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, and the National Coordinating Council of Career and Technical Student Organizations. The Technology Education Association of Illinois is a proud sponsor of Illinois TSA and gives annually to the association.