DOE’s Eric Frauwirth honored for statewide aviation education program

CONCORD- Eric Frauwirth, Administrator of the Bureau of Career Development at the New Hampshire Department of Education, was honored Wednesday as a Significant Contributor to Aviation and Space Education (AVSED) by the Federal Aviation Administration. Frauwirth was being recognized for his efforts to launch a statewide aviation curriculum for New Hampshire Career and Technical Education students. The new program brings together five schools from across the state to build a new aviation pathway covering subjects ranging from airplane manufacturing, piloting, and drones.

The program’s purpose to allow participating schools to choose their own program focus within statewide competencies. For example, Nashua will most likely focus on drones, Manchester will include an airplane build, and Conway will highlight flight training. Students completing any approved program will be eligible to sit for two FAA credentials – ground school and drone pilot. Additionally, college partners including Nashua Community College, SNHU, and Hellenic American University are working with the team to establish dual enrollment credits and continued education for the graduating students.

Participating school include:

• Nashua CTE Center,
• Manchester School of Technology,
• Mt. Washington Valley Career & Technical Center in Conway,
• Fall Mountain Regional High School CTE Center in Langdon,
• Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston.

“We are bringing together aviation education resources from across New Hampshire to offer students more options than they currently have at any single school,” Frauwirth said. “I want to thank the FAA for this honor, and for being an active partner in getting our aviation pathway off the ground.”

Prior to joining the Department, Frauwirth spent the majority of his career in higher education, as both a teacher and administrator, with a focus on baking, pastry, and culinary arts. In his current capacity, he works closely with the 28 regional CTE centers to oversee and expand educational pathways for students.

“Innovation in education creates new paths to bright futures for all of our students,” added Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. “Eric and his team found a way to bring together high schools, colleges, private partners and the FAA to create a brand new pathway. The sky is the limit.”

“The current industry forecast highlights a dramatic shortage of skilled Professional Aviation Maintenance Technicians. By the year 2030, the aviation industry will require 650,000 new commercial airline maintenance technicians. Mr. Eric Frauwirth, Ed.D., Administrator, Bureau of Career Development and has risen to the challenge and has a team of educators working to finalize a statewide curriculum outline for aviation in New Hampshire. Under the guidance of Ms. Virginia Schrader, CTE Director – Mount Washington Valley Career Technical Center, they have five schools (one comprehensive and four CTE centers) working on the project and several components up and running already,” said FAA Regional Administrator Colleen D’Allesandro during the ceremony.

This fall, 14 New Hampshire students have enrolled in the new CTE aviation pathway in Conway, with a second cohort starting in the spring. Additional schools are expected to submit applications to begin offering the program next fall.