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SAISD Celebrates Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month this February

SAISD Celebrates Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month this February

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in recognition of the value of CTE programs in a student’s educational experience and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. San Angelo ISD is proud of our expansive CTE programs that support student future-readiness with courses providing clear direction to pursue high-demand, post-secondary opportunities, whether that be a college education, joining the military, or entering the workforce. 

“CTE definitely celebrates students’ individual smartnesses. We’re able to introduce students to all the careers that are available to them, and then we can help them to identify what CTE courses we offer that match most closely to those career interests that they may have… Once we can identify that, and be able to offer them education and training in line with those passions that they have - that’s our goal,” said SAISD Director of CTE Roxanne Fentress. “We feel very happy when we know that students were able to take courses that really match their interest and something they’re really good at…”

SAISD’s CTE programs offer a sequence of courses that align with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills, and range from classroom learning to certification programs to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom to participation in student leadership organizations. CTE allows students to use academic knowledge and problem-solving skills while acquiring occupationally-specific skills as part of their high school curriculum. SAISD high school students can choose from CTE course pathways like construction management and inspection, welding, healthcare, culinary arts, design and multimedia arts, teaching and training, accounting and financial services, animal science, entrepreneurship and marketing, law enforcement, automotive technology, digital communications, and robotics. The full listing of CTE programs of study, pathways and course offerings is available online in the SAISD Opportunity Guide.

Students enrolled in our CTE programs can leave high school with:

  • valuable technical dual credit, 
  • industry-based certifications and licensures,
  • participation in resume-building student leadership organizations, and
  • the ability to directly enter the workforce. 

CTE students can obtain up to 50 technical dual credits which transfer to accredited colleges across Texas through courses taught by Howard College instructors or SAISD employees that are certified adjunct faculty. Through our State approved Industry-Based Certifications, students have the opportunity to become certified in 15 different areas including Certified Nurse Assistant, Adobe, Microsoft Office, Comp TIA, the American Welding Society, and the Texas State Floral Association Knowledge Based and Level One Certification. Students also have the opportunity to join resume-building student leadership organizations within their CTE courses which provide students with real-world applications and life experience, participation in local and regional competitions, the potential to advance to state and national competitions and scholarship opportunities. 

In the spring of 2021, SAISD expanded the CTE course offerings to provide our secondary students with a wider variety of opportunities. SAISD educators worked together to identify strategic areas to build a more robust program with courses to support student opportunity and choice, including programs that were not solely vocational spanning from healthcare to engineering to welding to culinary arts. 

San Angelo ISD is proud to provide relevant and inspiring course opportunities through CTE which produce future-ready graduates and the ability for our students to follow their individual hopes and dreams. To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD, please visit the SAISD website at www.saisd.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.