Purpose & Structure Overview
Purpose
State Education Teams (SETs) exist to support contest quality, consistency, and alignment with SkillsUSA Nationals by providing technical expertise and continuity across contest areas.
Scope of Work
SET members support contests by:
- Advising on technical standards and industry expectations
- Promoting alignment with national contest frameworks
- Assisting with recruitment of judges and technical chairs
- Supporting industry engagement and prize development
- Providing continuity during leadership transitions
- The College/Postsecondary SET Teams will focus on aligning SkillsUSA competitions to Tennessee program competencies and workforce expectations
Role Boundaries
- SETs are advisory only
- SETs do not manage or run contests
- SETs do not make final decisions
The Technical Chair is the official decision-maker for all contest operations
Confidentiality
- SET members do NOT access:
- Contest projects
- Secure materials
- Scoring keys
- All contributions are made from a standards-based, non-confidential perspective
Structure
- One SET per contest area (or cluster of related contests)
- Comprised of:
- Educators (primary)
- Optional: industry partners (as appropriate)
- Size: Flexible (recommended 3–8 members per area)
Engagement Expectations
- Participate in virtual meetings (Oct–March)
- Provide feedback and support as needed
- Assist with outreach and recruitment when possible
Outcomes
- Increased contest consistency
- Stronger alignment with Nationals
- Reduced disruption from last-minute staffing changes
- Expanded network of educators and industry partners
- Improved overall contest quality