February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month

February is CTE month! What is CTE? Career and technical education, or CTE, is education that directly prepares students for high-wage, high-skill and high-demand careers. CTE Month is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements  and accomplishments of CTE programs across the nation. 

LSR7 has a robust Career and Technical Education both within each middle school and high school as well as programs at Summit Technology Academy, Cass Career Center and Herndon Career Center with new programs coming at Paradise Park next year. 

Career and Technical Education is offered in 6 week, 9 week and semester courses at each of the middle schools. These courses provide an overview of Business, Marketing, and Information Technology, Engineering and Industrial Technology, and Family Consumer Sciences. Each grade level goes into more depth as they progress through middle school.

At the high school level, students are provided with multiple options to take a variety of classes, a pathway of study (2 credit sequence), an internship, or a youth apprenticeship in a particular area.  

BMIT (Business, Marketing & Information Technology) offers courses that support Business Management, Computer Science/Information Technology, Marketing, and Finance, as well as International Studies. 

Engineering and Industrial Technology (EIT) has offerings in Drafting Design Technology, Electricity Technology, and Engineering that support the Engineering aspect of the program. Machine Tool Technology, Welding/Metal fabrication, Cabinet/Furniture Making & Millwork, Creative Technology and General Trades are all supported in the Industrial Technology areas at the local high school. EIT also has a Youth Apprenticeship Program that began this year. 

Family Consumer Sciences has three areas of study, Education, Training and Development; Hospitality & Culinary Arts; and Apparel, Textiles and Fashion;  which are foundational courses to careers.

The Health Sciences backbone at the high school level include Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, and Principles of Engineering. 

Summit Technology, Cass Career Center and Herndon Career Center all offer capstone and certificated programs in specific areas such as Computer Science; Computer Generated Manufacturing; Engineering; Aerospace Engineering; Teacher Education; Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation Management;  International Studies; Digital Media; Environmental Studies; Medical/Biomedical Innovations; Pre-Nursing; Automotive Technology/Collision; Fire Science; Law Enforcement/Police Science; Cosmetology, Construction; HVAC/Industrial Maintenance; and Welding.

To celebrate CTE Month, students are sharing how the programs and student organizations are benefiting them as they prepare for careers. Please follow Twitter @LSR7careered or Facebook LSR7CareerEd to hear what students say about the CTE courses and to see what is happening in the district in our Career and Technology Education Programs.