Mississippi Tech-Prep Coordinators: Identifying Challenges of the Job

Abstract

Mississippi tech-prep coordinators were surveyed to determine their perceptions ofthe difficulty of their various job responsibilities as identified in the Mississippi Tech Prep Handbook Pilot Site Implementation Guide 1993Guide -94 (1993 . It was hypothesized that their perceptions would be influenced by the number of sites served by individual tech-prep coordinators and the number of years of experience of the individual coordinators. The coordinators'survey also included open-ended questions to gain insight into specific challenges, such as additional duties assigned by the community college, and changes in responsibilities that have occurred over the years. The coordinators were also asked to suggest improvements in their job responsibilities. Further, a separate survey was conducted of the state tech-prep staff members to gain their perspectives of the coordinators' responsibilities. The state staff members were asked to identify what they considered the most difficult duty and the easiest, to suggest improvements to strengthen tech prep, and to name the most important contribution of the coordinators. Challenges for Mississippi tech-prep coordinators were identified in areas of reporting, accountability, the increasing number of sites, and professional development.