Dr. Michele Harmala - Deputy Superintendent, Educator Excellence, Career and Technical Education, Special Education, and Administrative Law | Michigan Department of Education
A Michigan native has credited Career and Technical Education (CTE) for propelling him into a filmmaking career. Anders Lindwall, speaking from his experience at West Iron High School in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, said, “We were on a path... It really helped to set us on the trajectory where we’ve ended up.”
Nearly two decades since attending the school, Anders and his brother Davin Lindwall have produced "Green and Gold," an independent film that debuted in select theaters in January. As of Tuesday, the film is accessible on Amazon, Google Play, Apple, and Fandango at Home. The storyline focuses on a family farmer risking everything on the Green Bay Packers during the team's Super Bowl run, with actor Craig T. Nelson in a leading role. Anders has referred to the chance to create the film as a “miracle.”
The brothers' journey began when they first experimented with a video camera in a class led by their teacher Lee Rometti. Rometti, who retired after 31 years of teaching, encouraged and supported their aspirations. “We learned how to use a video camera,” Anders noted. Rometti provided opportunities for them to create videos for Business Professionals of America, a CTE organization focused on business-related career fields.
CTE programs across Michigan aim to prepare students for various career paths like agriculture, skilled trades, and STEM disciplines. Rometti emphasized the importance of these programs, stating, “Some students are ready to work when they are finished... Some of them are excited to take the next step.”
Anders Lindwall has urged Michigan state officials to expand CTE opportunities, highlighting the significance of long-term dedication to mastering skills. “People who I’ve known who are the most successful... have done one thing for a very long time,” he said.
In Michigan, CTE program enrollment has rebounded since the pandemic, surpassing pre-COVID numbers. The enrollment for the 2023-24 school year reached 112,156 students, reflecting a continual rise over three years. The number of CTE completers has also increased by 19% over the same period.
State education leaders, including State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice, recognize the value of these programs. “Career and Technical Education programs offer students from our state an opportunity to realize and live their dreams,” Rice said.
More information on Michigan's CTE programs is available on the Office of Career and Technical Education website.
A trailer for “Green and Gold” can be viewed on YouTube.
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