Matthew Mann is a major voice in the Baltimore community for skilled trades and alternative forms of education. As the Director of Education at North American Trade Schools, Matthew loves to plan and shape a curriculum that opens vast opportunities for students who are looking to pursue an education other than the traditional four-year bachelor’s degree. Matthew’s approach to vocational education is built on two pillars: his desire to help people grow and succeed in their careers, and his understanding of the requirements of a successful 21st-century workforce that’s lacking vocational workers.Before he came to Baltimore, Matthew Mann has been acknowledged by numerous local and state organizations for his contributions to the field of academics in Pennsylvania. In 2007, he was awarded the Outstanding Vocational Special Needs Teacher of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Education Special Populations (PACTESP), an organization in which he was heavily involved with at the time. In 2012, Matthew Mann was awarded Outstanding Leader by the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, where he worked his way up from an instructor in auto mechanics, to assistant principal, and finally to the principal of the Willow Street campus.Not only that, but Matthew Mann was also recognized by the Pennsylvania Governor’s office for creating partnerships between local business and industry leaders to expose students to vocational education. He’s also been invited to talk about his initiatives and programs for vocational education. at both of his alma maters, Temple University and Penn State University.Matthew Mann’s number one goal is to continue to grow as a professional in Baltimore’s educational sphere. Although he has continuously addressed and met the evolving workforce needs in his home state of Pennsylvania, he is excited to say that he’s now dedicated to enabling high-quality technical or trade education for students in Maryland.