Students and faculty in the eight Career and Technical education programs in Lenoir County Schools middle and high schools are joining hundreds of others across the nation during February to celebrate national CTE Month.
This year’s theme is “Career and Technical Education Works.”
The month provides CTE programs across the country an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE educates students to be college-and career-ready and prepares them for high-skill, high-demand, and high-wage career fields. It is a nationwide awareness event recognizing the positive impacts and opportunities for career exploration and career development that CTE provides students.
CTE encompasses 94 percent of high school students and 13 million postsecondary students in the United States and includes high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges, and four-year universities. LCS has students enrolled in Agriculture, Business and Information Technology, Marketing, Health Science, Family and Consumer Sciences, Technology, Trade and Industrial, and Middle School CTE fields.
Education and training in CTE is a major part of the solution to myriad national economic and workforce problems, such as high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and massive layoffs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly one-third of the fastest growing occupations will require an associate’s degree or a postsecondary vocational certificate. At a time when job opportunity is so critical, CTE programs in every community are ensuring students are adequately equipped with the skills to successfully enter the workforce.
In CTE, students acquire technical skills that start them on the path to a productive future and receive application in context to reinforce lessons from their academic classes. Students are earning postsecondary credits each year, as well as, credentialing to jump start their future education.
Students enjoy work-based learning opportunities such as Cooperative Education, internships, and job shadowing. They develop leadership and competency-based competitive skills in CTE student organizations such as Future Farmers of America and Distributive Education Clubs of America, which are an integral part of student instruction.
The activities planned this month are set to highlight this year’s theme.
BREAKOUT BOX:
CTE Month activities include:
- Proclamation presentation at Lenoir County Board of Commissioners meeting
- Visit the visual display boards at Vernon Park Mall during the entire month of February highlighting students in classrooms, labs, student organizations, job shadowing, and career showcase opportunities
- CTSOs like FBLA and FFA will host school staff breakfasts and faculty meetings
Source: Lenoir County Schools