Southeastern Regional's Taylor Mackie Facilitates Training at Washington Leadership Training Institute

Taylor Mackie, a senior in Design and Visual Communications Program at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, has been elected to serve as both the Joint Executive Council President of SkillsUSA and the National Region I Vice President.

Taylor’s involvement in SkillsUSA began 3 years ago, during her freshman year at Southeastern, when Assistant Principal Karen McGuire recommended she go to SkillsUSA as a voting delegate for the upcoming year’s state officer team. Observing the state officers speaking with confidence and charisma in front of a large audience, the seed was planted. As a sophomore, she was elected to the position of State Historian of the Massachusetts SkillsUSA Executive Council. She qualified to run for a national position the following year, and prepared her campaign which reflected her passion for theater: “For Fast Acting Leadership Elect Taylor Mackie.”

As National Region I Vice President, Miss Mackie represents the 6 New England States, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington D.C. The position involves advocating for SkillsUSA and career and technical education at the national level, to businesses, elected officials and schools. “I feel like I know what I’m supporting, because I know SkillsUSA like the back of my hand. I’m personally in charge of checking in with them and give reports on the specific states of Region I at the upcoming National Conference. If those states need me, I am available to them. Sometimes I might even be asked to attend an event out of my area,” Taylor said.

Miss Mackie’s main assignment as Joint Executive Council President involves working with high schools and colleges. “I’ll be giving a report to the board at the national level, showing the progress we’ve made. I’ll also get to travel and give reports about trainings and the progress of the officers,” she explained.

“I’ve had amazing opportunities as a SkillsUSA representative,” said Taylor, “including a recent opportunity to serve on Representative Kennedy’s student cabinet on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education’s connection to career and technical schools.” Taylor has also benefited from the SkillsUSA National Officer Training, and went to Washington D.C. September 20-24, 2014, to host the Washington Leadership Training Institute and talk to Senators about SkillsUSA and Perkins Funding. (Perkins Funds are “Federal funds are made available to develop more fully the academic, career, and technical skills of secondary and postsecondary students who elect to enroll in CTE programs.” – U.S. Department of Education).

After her June 2015 graduation, Taylor hopes to dual major in Animation/Story Telling and Performing Arts, joining a community theater, as well.

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School is a public 9-12 vocational high school located in South Easton, Massachusetts, serving approximately 1,400 students from the City of Brockton and the towns of East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, Stoughton and West Bridgewater.