– information courtesy of Vance County Schools

February is Career and Technical Education Month and Vance County Schools is shining a spotlight on a variety of careers from health care to hospitality that students can learn more about during the monthlong series of programs with the theme of “Career Rodeo.”

CTE classes in Vance County Schools prepare students for careers in health care, information technology, automotive, culinary, early childhood, business, carpentry, public safety, entrepreneurship and the list is growing, according to information from Aarika Sandlin, VCS director of marketing & communication.

Middle- and high school students will be learning about developing a resume, how to interview, job searching, career exploration, professionalism, professional dress, college experiences and much more!

High school students currently enrolled in a CTE course, as well as any senior, will be able to sign up for guest speaker sessions at Vance County High School as part of the “Career Rodeo” to hear from professionals in a variety of careers. This opportunity allows students to learn from people in the field of work they are most interested in

and ask questions. Access to business and industry leaders allow students the ability to gain knowledge to help them make informed decisions about their future. Some of the careers featured include an auto mechanic, dental hygienist, a phlebotomist, radiologist, esthetician, speech pathologist, among others.

Throughout February, Vance County Schools will highlight CTE areas and the work taking place that is helping students be prepared for jobs and careers after graduation. Partnerships with business and community groups help students prepare for the path they choose following graduation.

Some of the district’s CTE areas include:

Culinary Arts – House at the Center for Innovation, culinary arts students they become ServSafe certified. They are able to provide food service to local events within the community, as well as in partnership with local businesses. Their next engagements include providing a light breakfast for the County Soil & Water Conservation District on Feb. 23 and hosting the culinary experience at Arts Alive Heart of the Art on April 22.

 

Public Safety – students learn about career opportunities and gain skills that allow them to achieve certifications. Students most recently practiced extinguishing a controlled fire, showcasing their skills in correctly handling a fire extinguisher.

Agriculture/horticulture – the local Farm Bureau is restoring a greenhouse where students can learn hands-on about plants, as well as understanding how climate-controlled greenhouses work. Students will be able to take their skills to the next level with this on-site lab experience in the greenhouse.

Trade & Industry (T&I) – this program allows students to gain valuable knowledge and experience around engineering, construction and carpentry. The district currently has four students interning with Kilian Engineering and gaining experience with AutoCAD. Those students will serve as class foremen and lead the construction of a tiny house, which will be 20’x24′ and have full plumbing and electricity connections. The tiny house, made possible through local partnerships, donations and CTE funding,  will be auctioned off or raffled upon completion.

Early Childhood – students learn about caring for children and gain valuable experience through work at local daycare centers. As students work through the program, they learn how to support the needs of students physically and emotionally to fully prepare them for the hands-on experience that culminated with this pathway.

Business – this program pathway focuses on teaching students skills relative to marketing, office programs and entrepreneurship, leading to opportunities for students to develop items throughout a full business plan and bring those items to life in the entrepreneurship lab at the Center for Innovation.

Foods and nutrition – this program focuses on culinary skills, but without the commercial grade experience.  Students still create culinary delights; however, their focus is on residential grade appliances and uses, which give a different experience from the culinary arts pathway.

Autotech – this pathway allows students to learn about the basics of automobiles, while providing opportunities for them to gain skills in a lab setting located on the campus of Vance County High School. As students advance in the pathway, they gain knowledge and engage in more hands-on experiences in the mechanics of a vehicle, maintenance and repairs. Some certifications include entry-level certification in brakes, maintenance and light repair.

Middle school students will get to learn about career exploration with the creation of a Paxton Patterson Lab, Sandlin said. VCS recently close to $50,000 from NCDPI with a CTE Modernization and Support Grant. The lab combines problem-based learning experiences with help from educational consultants to give students a customized program of study while they learn more about their individual strengths.

The Paxton Patterson Lab joins the SLICE on Site lab on the campus of Vance County Middle School. SLICE stands for Simulated Labs for Interactive Career Exploration, Sandlin explained.

The N.C. Committee of Business Education provided $30,000 in grant funding to VCS to develop a program that gives high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to get experience within five career-focused internships in the field of technology.

The program is offered through the VCS technology department, and the students selected to participate will get paid for 6-10 hours a week in their work with other district departments.