Local administrator chosen as scholar
Frank Polen is in his fourth year as Buckeye Career Center director of curriculum, instruction and adult education, and has been selected to participate in the yearlong Postsecondary Leadership Success Program.
A Buckeye Career Center administrator has been chosen to serve as a member of the inaugural class of scholars for the 2019-20 Postsecondary Leadership Success Program, sponsored by the ECMC Foundation.
Frank Polen is in his fourth year as Buckeye Career Center director of curriculum, instruction and adult education, and has been selected as one of 20 postsecondary scholars across America to participate in the yearlong Postsecondary Leadership Success Program.
As part of the ECMC Foundation’s CTE Leadership Collaborative, the initiative is focused on bringing together diverse perspectives and equipping postsecondary career and technical education leaders with the tools, resources and skills needed to advance the field.
By participating in this program, each PLSP scholar will develop and refine their skills in organizational leadership and management; build critical interpersonal skills in communication, collaboration and problem-solving; and hone their ability to facilitate institutional change, working with a personal mentor to strengthen areas for skills-building needed as an effective leader in CTE.
In his role at BCC, Polen is actively involved on multiple workforce initiatives and community-development committees and serves on the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Polen also is involved with several career technical organizations both state and nationwide. He was one of two recipients to receive the National Council of Local Administrators of Career Technical Education Dave Berryman Scholarship for Best Practice and Innovations in Career Technical Education and is a graduate of the Ohio Association of Career Technical Superintendents New and Aspiring Superintendent Academy.
“I am Buckeye Proud to be chosen as a part of the ACTE Postsecondary Leadership Success Program sponsored by the ECMC Foundation,” Polen said. “I look forward to actively participating and learning from the other chosen scholars. This opportunity will allow me to continue to learn more about postsecondary education so that we can continue to expand our postsecondary trainings locally, regionally and beyond. Fellow participants range from all parts of the United States, and each state’s structure of technical training varies, making this a great learning and professional experience.”
As part of the application process, Buckeye Career Center Superintendent Bob Alsept referred Polen for the program. “I believe this opportunity would be very beneficial to Frank’s career. He has worked diligently to understand the intricacies of career and technical education. He has worked tirelessly during a time of tremendous growth and change at Buckeye Career Center. At a time when a trained workforce is vital to our economy, I believe Frank would utilize the knowledge gained from this program to benefit our region and state. I believe this program will only enhance his abilities.”
The yearlong success program begins this month with Polen representing Buckeye Career Center at the ACTE National Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C. Polen and his wife Gretchen, an elementary school teacher at Port Washington as part of Indian Valley Local Schools, are the parents of two daughters, Kendall and Reese.
More information and participating scholars can be found at www.acteonline.org/plsp- ecmcf/.