🎉 Exciting News from IRESA Tech Center! 🎉

We’re proud to share that IRESA Tech Center has been recognized with the MCAN Pathway Award! 🏆

The award, presented by the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), recognizes leaders and education providers across Michigan who are creating high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways that connect students to college and career opportunities. 🎓🔧

Through hands-on learning, industry-recognized credentials, and opportunities to earn college credit, CTE programs help students build real-world skills and prepare for success after high school.

We are incredibly proud of the amazing work happening at the Tech Center and the impact it continues to have on students across our region. 👏

Below is a portion of the official press release from MCAN highlighting this recognition.

"Earlier this week, Michigan College Access Network presented individual Pathway Awards to Michigan’s Career Education Planning Districts (CEPDs), honoring regional leaders and education providers who are working to ensure students across Michigan have access to high-quality, career-aligned Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. MCAN’s Pathway Award, established in 2024, recognizes people or institutions that demonstrate outstanding leadership and innovation in bridging education and workforce development.

The Pathway Award is one of MCAN’s College Access Impact Awards, which shine a light on the individuals, organizations, and collaborations that have exceeded expectations to make a positive impact on increasing college readiness, participation and completion in Michigan. In November, MCAN gave the 2025 Pathway Award to Michigan’s CTE programs, and this week’s event was an extension of the initial award presentation.

“While we celebrated the strength of Michigan’s statewide CTE system in November, we know systems alone don’t transform outcomes — people do,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of Michigan College Access Network. “We’re proud to take this opportunity to spotlight CEPD leaders who have helped build CTE programs into a dynamic, high-impact pathways to postsecondary success.”

Michigan’s CTE programs are central to the state’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to ensure that 60% of working-age adults hold a degree or postsecondary credential by 2030. Through hands-on instruction, work-based learning, industry-recognized credentials and opportunities to earn college credit, CTE programs help students prepare for both college and career success. During the 2024-25 school year, nearly 115,000 Michigan high school students were enrolled in CTE programs, with a record 55,431 completing a program.

CEPDs coordinate CTE programming across intermediate school districts and local education agencies, strengthening alignment among K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions and workforce partners. The individual Pathway Award recipients were selected for their leadership in expanding equitable access to CTE pathways, deepening partnerships with higher education institutions and employers, and Increasing student attainment of industry credentials and college credit.

“My fellow Career Education Planning District leaders are building bridges — between classrooms and careers, between aspiration and opportunity,” said Robert Smith, chair of Michigan’s Career Education Planning Districts Council and director of Career & Tech Education at Van Buren Intermediate School District. “CEPD administrators demonstrate what is possible when regional leadership is aligned around student success. Their work ensures that more Michigan students have access to meaningful, high-quality pathways that lead to credentials of value.”

MCAN congratulates this year’s individual Pathway Award recipients and extends appreciation to all CEPD administrators who champion opportunity and outcomes for Michigan students."

Thank you to Stephanie and Brandon Lichota for sharing the following original post!

What an amazing night of family fun and community connection! Preschool Family Night with IRESA was a ton of fun, and we are so grateful to have been a part of it! A special thank you to IRESA for inviting Students Leading Students (SLS) to join this incredible event and connect with local preschool families.

It was wonderful to see families spending quality time together, engaging in fun activities, and celebrating early learning in such a positive, welcoming environment. Events like this truly show the power of community partnerships and youth leadership working together to support families.

Congratulations to the winner of the $100 Applebee’s gift card! We hope you enjoy a fun and well-deserved family meal!

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and helped make the night so memorable. We look forward to many more opportunities to partner with IRESA and bring meaningful, family-friendly events to our community!

Our 2nd PAC meeting is approaching on January 27th at 6pm! The meeting will be focusing on your child's IEP and we encourage you to bring a copy. There is also a link available to participate virtually.

To get more information about PAC, help finding your child's IEP, or getting the virtual link, email Chelsea Stephens at cstephens@ioscoresa.net.

The Iosco RESA Career and Technical Education Center would like to take this opportunity to recognize George Kirby as “Professional Student of the Month” for September 2025. George is the son of Holly Smith and Robert Kirby. He is senior at Oscoda Area High School.

George Kirby is a second year student in the Welding & Fabrication course. George has an outstanding work ethic. It starts with his unwavering attendance. He is here every day and contributes positively to our classroom or in the lab. He turns in every assignment and does quality, accurate work. George has picked up where he left off, and continues to be a leader in our class. He has already completed one of his leadership projects for the Tech Center and has plans to do more. George is a great asset to our program and will do amazing things in the future as a welder.

The following is what was true of him last year & is still true today. His time spent in the lab shows his commitment to our trade. He doesn’t wait to be told what to do. He spends every minute practicing or fabricating his projects. For example, George was a lead fabricator in his leadership team. They built a park bench for the Tech Center, and it will be utilized here at the Tech Center for everyone to enjoy. Another example of George’s creativity and skill was showcased in the project he submitted for our MITES competition. He made the infinity cube, and this was featured at the Tawas Art Gallery. Many people made inquiries about if he would be willing to sell his cube. This is the ultimate compliment! George has a bright future ahead of him as a welder & fabricator.

To be nominated for “Professional Student of the Month”, a student must have outstanding work ethics, no absences or tardies for the month, no discipline issues and at least a B grade point average. Iosco RESA Tech Center offers the following programs for 11th and 12th grade students: Automotive Technology, Aeronautics/General Aviation, Building Trades, Business Management, Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management, Health Science, Teacher Prep Academy, and Welding & Fabrication. For more information about these programs call 989-362-3006 ext. 1163.

The Iosco Regional Educational Service Agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation