HARTFORD, Conn. — Gov. Ned Lamont has appointed Dr. Alice Pritchard to serve as interim executive director of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System.
The entity is responsible for overseeing the state’s 17 technical high schools, two airframe and aircraft maintenance programs and technical education center, according to a release from Lamont’s office.
Lamont said that Connecticut’s technical high schools and workforce development programs are focused on giving students a competitive advantage by teaching them the skills necessary to fill in-demand, well-paying jobs. He added that he is thrilled Pritchard agreed to take on the leadership role and looks forward to collaborating with her.
“Dr. Pritchard’s experience in higher education and workforce development will help accelerate our vision of having a technical education and career system that functions collaboratively with the needs of the business community so that when students graduate, their careers can thrive from the start,” Lamont said.
Pritchard said she is honored to serve in a position of such importance and anticipates bringing her experience in government, higher education, workforce and the nonprofit sector to the table.
“I am excited to work with the Lamont administration, legislators, the CTECS Advisory Board, school and central office employees, partner agencies, colleges and universities, labor unions, business leaders and students to help the system reach its full potential,” Pritchard said.
Dr. Christine Benz, chair of the CTECS Advisory Board, said that the entity is Connecticut’s premier pipeline for a highly skilled workforce and is dedicated to advancing excellence in career and technical education. She praised the appointment of Pritchard.
“Dr. Pritchard’s expertise in workforce development will be a tremendous asset in helping CTECs achieve this mission,” Benz said.
Pritchard was most recently the director of workforce development and strategic initiatives for the state’s Department of Administrative Services; she began there in May 2023.
In the position, Pritchard was responsible for supporting the growth, development, retention and advancement of Connecticut’s public workforce, as she worked with state agencies to identify their workforce needs, according to Lamont’s office.
Pritchard has also collaborated with the state’s technical high schools and institutions of higher education to promote workforce development programs that correlate to the needs of state agencies.
Furthermore, Pritchard formerly served as the DAS designee and vice chair of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority.
Before being employed by DAS, Pritchard worked for Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, which is the higher education system that consists of and oversees six public colleges and universities in Connecticut. From 2015 to 2023, she was their chief of staff and chief strategy officer and supported the system's president by managing and directing key functions to execute the strategic goals and vision of the leadership there.
From 1991 to 2015, Pritchard worked for the nonprofit formerly known as the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund in several roles, including executive director. There, she managed all the agency’s aspects from financial planning and administration to staff supervision and implanting its strategic plan.
Pritchard earned a Ph. D in sociology and M.A. in sociology from the University of Connecticut. She also received a B.A. in sociology from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss.
According to the state, CTECS serves around 11,200 full-time students at its technical high schools and over 3,000 adult education students at its aviation and apprenticeship programs.
Pritchard began serving at CTECS last Friday.
----
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
