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Oak Ridge Elementary School

Career Ready: Equipping Students for Their Dreams

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and Frenship is excited to join districts from across the country in celebrating the highly successful programs that are preparing our students for their future dreams.  

Nearly 2,800 Frenship students are enrolled in at least one of the 85 CTE courses offered by the District. Through these specialized classes, students are getting hands on experience preparing them for high-wage, high-demand, high-skill jobs.

“My favorite thing about CTE is seeing how students truly prepare for the real-world,” said Amy Baker, Frenship CTE Coordinator. “Whether it’s in automotive, welding, law enforcement or business, students are actively engaged in caring about their future. They have a passion for what they are learning, and it shows.”

In many of the career pathways, the classrooms are transformed into a job site. Automotive technology students can roll up their sleeves and work on vehicles in the shop. Culinary students are learning how to cook gourmet meals, cater events and the business side of running a restaurant. Health science students work in the lab equipped with hospital beds and patient care simulators. Construction students are using what they learned in the classroom to build a home from the ground up for Habitat for Humanity. The list goes on.

In these programs, it’s more than just a grade. Last year 108 students earned industry certifications before graduating high school.

“I truly believe that Frenship ISD students are some of the most equipped and prepared students in the state to obtain high-wage and high-skilled jobs,” said Baker. “It’s so fun watching former students come back and share how their CTE classes led to their future success.”

Not only are they gaining the technical skills, Baker says they’re also learning leadership, time management, problem solving and conflict resolution. “These are things that will help them stand out in job interviews and career opportunities in the future,” she said.

From career awareness and exploration in elementary and middle school to making career decisions in high school, Frenship students are gaining the necessary skills to follow their dreams.

Interested in joining or learning more about the CTE Program? CLICK HERE

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