Career and Tech. Education Month

Career and Technical Education Courses Help Students Be Successful in the Workplace or Higher Education

Whether students are preparing for college or on a path leading directly to a career, Career and Technical Education courses offer Poudre School District students a unique curriculum that will help them be successful in the workplace, in higher education and in the community.

The PSD Board of Education recently passed a resolution in support of Career and Technical Education Month in February 2007.  At the school board meeting, Fossil Ridge High School technical education teacher John Thayer, and FRHS student Bob Bean demonstrated their electric car project to school board members.

In PSD, about 5,000 students benefit from the 50 CTE classes offered to junior high and high school students. Several courses consist of 2 years of study, leading into advanced curriculum. Programs are rich with applied academics, integrating math, physics, writing/composition and computer literacy skills into the curriculums.

“Career and Technical Education offers students lifelong opportunities to learn new skills, provide them with career choices and a school-to-career connection in many occupations,” says Kathy Hanson, PSD Career and Technical Education Coordinator.

The 3 areas of Career and Technical Education in PSD include:

·        Business and Marketing: Courses like accounting, business law, computer applications, desktop publishing, web design, international business, economics and marketing.

·        Family and Consumer Sciences: Courses like child development, life management, relationships, fashion design, and culinary arts.

·        Technology Education: Courses like aerospace, building trades, construction, pre-engineering, electronics, engineering drafting and graphics, and technical physics.

High school students may also take more advanced CTE classes at Front Range Community College.

In addition to courses, CTE offers the PaCE (Professional and Community Experience) and ACE (Alternative Community Experience – for special needs students) programs. PaCE and ACE offers students opportunities to step outside the school walls and explore various career options. By working in the community at a private business or public entity, students gain on-the-job experience in their areas of career interest.

Local businesses equally value these student opportunities, realizing that students with broad-based education and hands-on experience are better prepared to enter the workforce.

For more information about Career and Technical Education in PSD, contact Hanson at 490-3652.

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