Fall is here- time for a little
“coach mattick pep talK”
My first speaking opportunity for the Nevada ACTE State Conference in South Lake Tahoe is one I'll never forget.
Not because it was my first conference presentation.
Not because I was standing in front of fellow CTE leaders.
And definitely not because I accidentally found myself passionately raising my voice toward the ACTE President sitting in the front row. Sorry, Brandon.
It was memorable because I realized just how deeply I believe something that shouldn't be controversial:
We need to start treating CTSO competitions like we treat high school athletics.
As we head into another fall sports season, schools across the country are gearing up.
The buses are ready.
The booster clubs are fundraising.
Parents are buying spirit wear.
Principals are showing up on the sidelines.
Pep rallies are filling gyms.
Communities are rallying around student athletes.
And they should.
I've lived that life.
For ten years, I stood on the sidelines as a high school football coach. I've loaded buses. Raised money. Worked with booster clubs. Chased down sponsors. Organized travel. Celebrated victories. Supported students through losses.
I've felt the electricity that comes when an entire school community rallies around students pursuing excellence.
And that's exactly why I get so passionate about CTSOs.
Because I've experienced that same electricity somewhere else.
At Nationals.
Standing inside a packed arena surrounded by thousands of SkillsUSA competitors from across the country, I felt it immediately.
The excitement.
The pride.
The anticipation.
The energy.
It felt every bit as electric as a Friday night football game.
Maybe more.
Students who had spent months mastering technical skills, practicing presentations, refining projects, and preparing for competition were stepping onto a national stage.
This was their championship.
Their state title game.
Their playoff run.
Their moment.
And yet, over and over again, people looked at my name tag and asked the same question:
"You're a principal?"
"Why are you here?"
"Our administration has never come to Nationals."
Not once.
Not twice.
Multiple times.
That hit me.
Why wouldn't we be there?
If we would never dream of missing a state championship game, why would we miss a national championship event showcasing our students' talents, career readiness, leadership, and technical skills?
Why are we willing to celebrate one form of student excellence while quietly overlooking another?
CTSO competitors deserve the same energy.
The same support.
The same celebration.
The same school pride.
The same visibility.
The same investment.
I want to challenge every CTE administrator and school leader reading this:
Look at your budget.
Reallocate where you can.
Find grants.
Lean on industry partners.
Activate your booster organizations.
Start planning now.
Get your administrative team on the bus.
Show up.
Because students notice.
And when leaders show up, it sends a message:
What you're doing matters.
Imagine if every state CTSO qualifier received a school send-off.
Imagine if every national qualifier was celebrated at a pep rally.
Imagine if businesses sponsored travel the way they sponsor athletic programs.
Imagine if principals stood alongside CTSO advisors the same way they stand alongside coaches.
Imagine what that would say to students about the value of career and technical education.
This isn't about choosing between athletics and CTSOs.
We need both.
This is about recognizing that excellence comes in many forms.
Some students compete under stadium lights.
Others compete in business presentations, aviation events, engineering challenges, health science competitions, leadership conferences, and technical skill showcases.
Both deserve a crowd.
Both deserve support.
Both deserve champions in their corner.
So here's my challenge to fellow principals, district leaders, and CTE administrators:
I'll see you on the sideline.
Not the football sideline.
The CTSO sideline.
The state conference sideline.
The national competition sideline.
The place where students are courageously putting their skills, knowledge, and dreams on display.
I hope to shake your hand at the 50-yard line of the CTSO National Championships in the summer of 2027.
Because CTE isn't a fallback.
It's a launchpad.
And our students deserve a stadium full of support.
Bring the E.
Coach Mattick
#BringTheE #CTEDeservesMore #CTE #SkillsUSA #ACTE #CTSO #FindTheMoney #PlanNow #ForTheKids #Leadership #Energy #Engagement #Empowerment #CTEIsALaunchpad