Message from the Former Superintendent

The Salem County Vocational Technical Schools serve over 1,000 county residents through a variety of educational programs and services. The district offers a wide range of academy, career and technical education, career orientation and special education programs. These programs are offered on both a full-time and shared-time basis in cooperation and partnership with the county’s elementary and secondary schools, Salem Community College and with an array of business partners.

The Board of Education provides full and shared-time career and technical education opportunities for students at the Salem County Career and Technical High School in a campus setting. Students may choose from over fifteen career and technical education and career orientation program opportunities that are offered at this site. The district operates the Salem County Arts, Science and Technology Academies in partnership with four of the county’s high schools. This virtual high school consists of full-time specialized theme programs that are operated in cooperation with Penns Grove High School, Pennsville Memorial High School, Schalick High School and Woodstown High School. These magnet or theme programs include the Academy of Biological and Medical Sciences hosted at the Career and Technical High School, the Academy of Engineering and Technology hosted at Penns Grove High School, the Academy of Communication and Information Technology hosted at Woodstown High School and the Academy of Graphic Design in Multi-Media Technology hosted at Pennsville Memorial High School. The Academy of Creative and Performing Arts is hosted at Pennsville Memorial High School and Schalick High School. The instrumental and vocal disciplines are offered at Pennsville Memorial High School and the dance, drama and visual arts disciplines are offered at Schalick High School. Many of the students in these programs are also exposed to educational and cultural opportunities at Apple Farm.

The board and district leadership team continue to develop the six identified effective traits for teachers. These traits have been integrated into the interviewing, hiring, and monitoring and evaluation process. Additionally, high yield instructional strategies are being reviewed to enhance instruction and to further enhance advance level career and technical education program courses that are being implemented for full-time secondary and post secondary students.

Under a contract with the NJDOE, the Board operates the New Jersey Regional Day School at Mannington. This school serves multiply and low incident disabled students from Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties. A wide range educational program and support services are offered at this school. They include academic, career orientation, therapeutic and socialization opportunities.

Through the district’s Business, Corporate and Customized Education Center and the Educational Technology Training Center, adult, apprentice, community, continuing and customized education programs are offered. The BCCEC is primarily designed to meet the needs of county employers and employees. Through the BCCEC a variety of management, computer software application, mechanical and safety training programs are offered.

The district operates a growing number of educational and training programs for adults in areas of high need. Currently, programs in phlebotomy, certified nursing assistant, and cosmetology are offered. SCVTS is also a branch campus of Salem Community College, offering college classes in this part of the county. Professional development programs are offered through the ETTC on a regional basis. The district also operates the Salem County School Based Youth Services Center, which is supported through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The School Based program is available to all Salem County in and out of school at-risk youth.

All district programs are designed for students to receive the best possible education to prepare them for employment, for higher education leading to employment and for life-long learning. Student achievement and success is the basis for all board and management decisions and for the selection of learning theories and teaching styles that are utilized in the school district.

Dr. Loren Thomas