Making the science inside skilled work visible.
Our Purpose
Our education system and labor market are pulling in opposite directions—and no one group can fix that alone. College‑first pathways still dominate, even as millions of well‑paid technical roles go unfilled while many degree‑holders struggle to find footing.
The CTE Science Alliance exists to address the part of this problem that lives in our shared story. We unite industries, educators, and national organizations around a single, evidence‑based narrative: CTE is applied science and a critical source of the nation’s technical talent.
By giving the field a common framework and language, we make it easier for every partner to recruit, invest, and advocate where real opportunities are.
That’s why the CTE Science Alliance was founded — to make the science inside skilled work visible and place CTE squarely within the STEM conversation.
Our Role
The CTE Science Alliance is a communications and convening initiative focused on one goal: making the science inside skilled work visible so CTE is seen as a serious applied‑science pathway — not a fallback.
We act as a bridge between communities, schools, industry partners, and philanthropy. We don’t run programs or set policy; we shift understanding. Our work translates research, labor‑market data, and real‑world stories into insights that help leaders position CTE as science‑powered, future‑focused education.
How We Partner
With education, industry, policy, and funding partners, we:
Highlight the physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering already embedded in CTE programs.
Elevate stories from students and employers that show CTE as rigorous, STEM‑aligned applied science.
Build messaging tools—language, frameworks, and stories—that CTE leaders can adapt locally.
We’re guided by a shared conviction: America’s future depends on recognizing—and funding—the science inside skilled work.
Who We Are
The CTE Science Alliance is led by communications and advocacy professionals who have spent their careers helping industry groups and nonprofits explain complex issues to the public and policymakers.
Founded by Megan McDonald and John Doyle of Doyle McDonald, the Alliance brings together a growing network of CTE leaders, districts, employers, associations, and funders committed to positioning career and technical education as applied science in action.
Pilot partners, sponsors, and champions help co‑create tools, stories, and examples that show CTE as indispensable to building America’s skilled STEM workforce.
