Career-Oriented Classes on Schools’ Syllabus
Published Apr 16, 2007
Mary Setcklein says the vocational training of past generations has given way to progressive career-oriented programs.
Words like choices, opportunities and options come up regularly when the Jefferson County School District’s Career and Technical Education programs are described.
Indeed, with curriculum choices that vary from pre-engineering to culinary science, marketing education to automotive technology, and construction technology to process technology, students “have lots of options, lots of opportunities,” says Mary Stecklein, the school district’s career and technical education director.
This is not a previous generation’s vocational-education program. Students aren’t being slotted into jobs. Instead they gain academic and technical skills that can be translated into jobs or, more likely, into further post-secondary studies.
Twenty years ago, the high school-to-work scenario was much different. Students with vocational training could expect to find work in some fields right out of high school.
Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 85 percent to 95 percent of high school students will need education beyond a high school diploma. In fact, Stecklein says, many of the fastest-growing job categories require one to three years of education beyond high school. Two-thirds of the roughly 80,000 Colorado students who enroll in career and technical education programs will enter post-secondary programs, according to the Colorado Association for Career and Technical Education.
In Jefferson County schools, career and technical education programs are built upon a three-part foundation of technical skills, academic skills and workplace competencies, she says. “Students get a variety of experiences around what the industry is like technically, how academics are used, as well as what it takes to be a quality worker.”
EARNING COLLEGE CREDITS IN HIGH SCHOOL
Because the Career and Technical Education programs are closely coordinated with area community colleges, students can earn from three to 18 college credits while in high school. The average, Stecklein says, is between three and nine credits, which are transferable to community colleges and universities across the nation.
High school teachers, meanwhile, are closely connected with the community colleges. “Basically,” she adds, “our teachers become adjunct faculty to those colleges, teaching the same curriculum and using the same resources.” The teachers participate in one- and two-week training sessions with higher education faculty during the summer months and then bring that knowledge back to Jeffco students.
For the students, career and technical education provides a look into the careers they’re interested in, and it helps to connect high school academics with the world of work. Some students are finding it a link to high-demand jobs in fast-growing career areas such as process technology.
“What’s unique about career and technical education today is that it is broader, with stronger academics and a stronger transition with our community college and university partners,” Stecklein says.
Story by Sue Lenthe
Photo by Wes Aldridge
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