Students Find New Pathways
From Campus to Career
Written By Kimberly Beare , PIO , Morgan Hill Unified School District
The traditional notion of vocational school has given way to Career and Technical Education ( CTE ). Today ’ s students need education pathways that lead to fulfilling careers in a global economy driven by tech innovation . CTE goes above and beyond vocational education and training to give students options that are relevant to their needs and goals going forward .
Data from the U . S . Department of Education and other sources show that the integration of CTE into coursework leads to higher secondary school graduation rates , industry certifications , postsecondary education , and ultimately , the high-demand jobs of the 21st century workforce .
CTE incorporates work-based learning that helps students apply classroom learning in virtual workplace settings , allowing them to explore industries and roles while developing a critical understanding of the work environment .
In 2016 , Morgan Hill Unified School District doubled down on its commitment to ensure that every student who graduates from its high schools has a career path . In less than a year the school district ’ s Director of CTE , Heather Nursement , has brought the program and its benefits into focus . High school CTE courses have been aligned with local / regional industry job market demands and postsecondary options .
We need to engage our high school students and make the campus-to-career experience more meaningful for them ,” Nursement said . “ For every course requirement , students ask : ‘ Why do I need to learn this ?’ With a solid CTE program , they can see a clear path from high school studies to graduation to a well-paying job .”
The U . S . Department of Education states that the average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 93 percent — a significant statistic that proves when students can see the path and the reward , they are more motivated and likely to succeed .
Meanwhile , regional business and industry need to close the gap between job creation and graduates with the knowledge and skills to fill those jobs . For example , more than 80 percent of manufacturers report that talent shortages are impacting their ability to meet market demand . With this in mind , Nursement is working with the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce to explore job shadowing and internship opportunities for CTE students . The district is also working with Gavilan Community College in offering students dual enrollment courses .
As for the passion she brings to this work , Nursement said , “ I was a CTE student in high school , attended community college , and went on to graduate from the California State University system before becoming a CTE teacher . I continued the coursework from my high school CTE program while earning my bachelor ’ s and master ’ s degrees and my teaching credentials . As a product of CTE I believe wholeheartedly that it works !”
To learn more , contact Heather Nursement , MHUSD Director of CTE , at nursementh @ mhusd . org or 408-201- 6069 .
CTE programs prepare students for college and careers : 1
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The top 3 SKILLS and experiences that students report gaining in their CTE classes are :
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More than 88 percent of CTE students are planning to continue on to postsecondary education .
SKILLS to help them get jobs in the future
REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES to help them understand academic classes
6 in 10 students are planning to pursue a career related to the CTE area they are exploring in high school .
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The chance to work as PART OF A TEAM
Almost 1 / 3 of CTE students have the opportunity to earn college credit and / or an industry certification through CTE .
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Source : My College Options ® / ACTE research study ( 2016 ). National sample includes 40,192 high school CTE students .
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MAY / JUNE 2017 gmhtoday . com
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