In The News

Chapter Team Members of the over 500 member Four County Career Center Skills USA Chapter include (FRONT - LEFT TO RIGHT) Helena Estrada, Cosmetology (Ayersville); Kayla Matney, Law Enforcement & Security Tactics (Ayersville); Danielle Long, Cosmetology (Ayersville); Alyssa Robertson, Law Enforcement & Security Tactics (Holgate); Jolena Petersen, Graphic Arts (Napoleon); (BACK - LEFT TO RIGHT) Jennifer Conley, Graphic Arts (Hicksville); Holly Rupp, Commercial Art (Archbold); Ashley Buttermore, Commercial Art (Fairview); Maxwell Scott, HVAC & Plumbing (Evergreen); Alexandria Durocher, Cosmetology (Edon); Taylor Rosebrook, Cosmetology (Patrick Henry); and Katelyn Thomas, Fire & Rescue (Liberty Center). Among the chapter projects this year are the toy drive to raise funds for area needy families, state and national Skills USA leadership and skill competitions, and sponsorship of student assemblies. Kim Dunbar, Cosmetology instructor and Bill Parsley, HVAC & Plumbing instructor are the Career Center Skills USA advisors.

Four County Career Center’s Pre-Engineering program will be hosting an Open House for current 10th grade students interested in pursuing the field of engineering after high school. This program is open to all next year’s juniors in the four county area. Through this program students will earn FREE college credit while experiencing the technical side of making a product.

Open House will be held Thursday, February 23 in the Engineering Department at Northwest State Community College. The Open House will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Program instructor, Tim Armitage, and current Pre-Engineering students will be available to answer questions about the program. Student work will also be on display.

For more information about the Pre-Engineering program offered through Four County Career Center, call 1-800-589-3334, Ext. 3528.
 

Four County Career Center’s Career paths for the Teaching Professions program will be hosting two Open Houses for current 11th grade students interested in pursuing the field of education after high school. This is a senior only program and is open to all next year’s seniors in the four county area. Through this program students will earn FREE college credit, experience the classroom through mentoring, and work directly with students in the classroom.

Open House will be held Tuesday, February 21 at the Serrick Center’s Cultural Arts Center on The Defiance College campus and on Thursday, February 23 in the Voinovich Auditorium at Northwest State Community College. Both Open Houses will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Program instructor, Bev Emch, and current Teaching Professions students will be available to answer questions about the program. Student work will also be on display.

For more information about the Teaching Professions program offered through Four County Career Center, call 1-800-589-3334, Ext. 2288.

The Four County Career Center Board of Education recently accepted the resignation of William J. Spiess as Superintendent for the purposes of retirement. Mr. Spiess has spent 38 years serving career and technical education at the Career Center, the last four of those as the Superintendent. He taught Landscape and Greenhouse Technology from 1974 through 1998 and then moved into the position of Career and Technical Supervisor in 1999. In 2002, Mr. Spiess took the position of Director of Operations and in 2006 he became the Director of Career and Technical Education.

Throughout his career, Mr. Spiess has been very active in educational and service associations and has been a member in the Association for Career and Technical Education; Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education; Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators; National Association of Secondary School Administrators; Buckeye Association of School Administrators; and the National Career Pathways Network.

Following his retirement, Mr. Spiess will continue to seek opportunities to advance career and technical education and help students succeed.

William Spiess and his wife Debbra are residents of Liberty Center. They have two adult daughters and four grandchildren. Their daughter Stephanie and her husband Carl live in Liberty Center. She is employed at the Career Center as the instructor of the Veterinarian Assistant program. Their daughter Jamie and her husband Trent live in Liberty Center. She is employed at Maumee Valley Save a Pet and goes to Brown Mackie College in the Veterinary Technician Program. The Board and staff join in wishing Mr. Spiess well with all his future endeavors.

Four County Career Center Board of Education is conducting the search for a new superintendent who will assume their duties at the Career Center following Mr. Spiess’ retirement.