The principal at Dobbins High is an alum, and spoke movingly of the school’s “strong legacy.”
When Shervon Thompson arrived at Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School in the 1990s, she planned to study cosmetology and start a family business. She achieved both goals after graduating in 1996, but her path expanded further when she earned a four-year scholarship to Pennsylvania State University, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in workforce development and training. Years later, after earning a master’s in educational leadership and a doctorate, Thompson returned to Dobbins—this time as its principal—the first alumna in the school’s 90-year history to hold that position.
At a recent event celebrating the importance of career and technical education (CTE), Thompson reflected on how Dobbins transformed her life and highlighted its strong legacy of distinguished alumni, including former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers, and basketball legend Dawn Staley. The event, organized by the Center for American Progress and the American Federation of Teachers, featured several notable speakers such as Governor Josh Shapiro, Mayor Cherelle Parker, and Superintendent Tony Watlington Sr.
Governor Shapiro praised Dobbins as “one of the great gems of our commonwealth,” emphasizing that every Pennsylvanian deserves the opportunity to pursue success through multiple educational pathways—college, military service, or career and technical training. He noted that the state legislature has increased public education funding by about $2 billion over the past two years, with bipartisan support doubling the CTE budget. Shapiro also pointed to the state’s growing apprenticeship programs, which now include 34,000 participants in fields ranging from welding to dairy herd management.
Mayor Parker spoke about the city’s expanding opportunities, including in maritime industries at the Navy Yard, stressing the importance of self-sufficiency through skilled work. Superintendent Watlington thanked both Shapiro and Parker for boosting school funding and highlighted the district’s progress—higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and improved test scores. He credited much of that success to the 6,000 CTE students in Philadelphia, underscoring the vital role of hands-on education in preparing students for college, careers, and beyond.
Full story here: https://whyy.org/articles/pennsylvania-career-technical-education/
