Career-technology center gets new director

One of the best educational resources in our area is the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center housed in its new building and campus on Silver Springs Road facing Interstate 55. Before moving to its new location, the school was known as the area vocational-technical school. The name change reflects today's emphasis on the role played by technology in the work place as well as the aim of preparing students for real-life careers.

Visitors to the Career and Technology Center come away impressed by the facilities, the technology, the students and the staff. Much of the credit for the center's recent development goes to Harold Tilley, who has been director since 1992. Tilley is retiring at the end of the school year.

Taking over the leadership at the center will be Rich Payne, a familiar face in the Cape Girardeau School District where he has served in various capacities for 13 years. We wish the new director the best as he leads the center forward with the same goals of excellence as his predecessors.