January 2023 • Volume 3 • Issue 5
THE CTE "WHY?"
Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares all students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand careers. The experience begins with career inspiration in Pre-K, awareness in elementary school, exploration in middle school, and preparation in high school. CTE equips students for post-secondary education and immediate employment opportunities to compete worldwide successfully.
• Featured Articles •
January is National Mentoring Month. It acknowledges the value of mentorship for our young people and celebrates those who offer wisdom, guidance, and positive examples to ensure our children are on paths to success. Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has hampered the social and academic progress of many students. Mental health challenges for adolescents have risen and our students need mentors to help them navigate these complexities, open doors of opportunity, and provide additional support so that they may excel in school and in their communities.
The month of January is proclaimed to be National Mentoring Month by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Our President encourages our nation’s colleges and universities to partner with K-12 schools and community-based organizations to provide new mentorship opportunities. President Biden further urges employers and unions to continue offering pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeships, which train new workers to authentically engage with industry.
We are Better Together, and all play a role in helping the next generation achieve their unique American dreams. We thank each of our mentoring partners for their support of Guilford County Schools.
To learn more of President Biden’s proclamation, click HERE.
Weaver Carpentry Teacher Earns LEED Certification
Mark Adkins, a CTE carpentry teacher at Weaver Academy , earned the LEED Green Associate credential in December. Adkins is part of the Safer Together Green Housing Project Professional Learning Community (PLC) that is funded by a grant from the Fannie Mae Sustainable Communities Innovation Grant. The LEED Green Associate credential affirms a professional’s thorough comprehension of green building principles and practices. Adkins participated in a six-week-long training with the U. S. Green Building Council and engaged in summer externships to rehabilitate homes with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council.
Guilford County School's Choice Showcase
Western Guilford High School's Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Signature Career Academy (WGHS TDL SCA) students were live with WFMY 2 News to help promote the Magnet Showcase held on Wednesday, February 1st. Seniors Shaniya Love and Supreme Robinson demonstrated how they are part of the CTE "Ultimate Classroom to Career Experience". Shaniya demonstrated the Skills Boss Logistics trainer and talked about how it has prepared her for a CTE Transportation Internship at Fastenal. Supreme Robinson demonstrated the forklift simulator and talked about how the program has equipped him for his CTE Transportation Internship at FedEx Express.
Click HERE to learn more about the district's Choice Schools and Programs and see students in action at WGHS TDL SCA.
Real Practice in Entrepreneurship
December's issue featured the grand opening of Northwest Guilford High School’s (NWHS) Break N’ Bread student store. This school-based enterprise is teaching our students about the world of work and business ownership. Guilford County Schools labors to ensure our students are employed, enrolled, enlisted, and/or have an entrepreneurial venture immediately following high school graduation. The hours of operation for Break N’ Bread are M-F, 11:25AM-12:55PM. Some of the items for sale include blankets, water bottles, wallets, phone cases, school supplies, license tags, and beanies. Break N’ Bread welcomes customized orders and accepts in-kind donations. All payment types are accepted, except Apple Pay; and all proceeds will benefit the beautification of the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Technology Center. For more information, contact NWHS CTE Accounting teacher, Ms. Chandra James, jamesc@gcsnc.com.
Click HERE to learn more about this amazing school-based enterprise managed by CTE Accounting students.
• EDUCATION & BUSINESS & INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT•
Career speakers spark career dreams
Students at Southwest Guilford Middle School (SWMS) were introduced to guest speaker Myron Stewart, a basketball player from High Point University who played from 1995 to 2000. He played professionally in France for a year and tried out for the Denver Nuggets in 2003. He spoke about overcoming hardships and learning to succeed. The students were able to ask him questions about his former athletic career and his current career. Obtaining a biology degree from High Point University (HPU) empowered him to pursue and achieve a position at Duke University Health Systems as an Associate Director of Quality.
The 8th grade students from Southwest Middle School (SWMS) were also able to engage with the High Point Police Department and Fire Department about careers in both of these career fields. The students prepared insightful questions to ask which led to open discussions about the requirements and associated risks in the Law Enforcement, Corrections, Security, and Public Safety Career Cluster. CTE continues to help students discover interests, develop passions, and identify career aspirations.
The Power Of Partnership
Seniors at Western Guilford High School’s (WGHS) Signature Career Academy (SCA) of Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics are expanding their classroom knowledge and skill through authentic CTE internship experiences. Bridging the classroom to industry through meaningful business partnerships provide students the opportunity to intern, earning wages of $16-$20 per hour. Current job placements are with Fastenal, Precision Fabrics, Harris Teeter, and FedEx Express. High school senior, Supreme Robinson, is working at FedEx Express and was challenged by his management team to help market work-based learning opportunities for future student interns. Consulting with his CTE SCA teacher, Mr. Jeffrey Silverthorne, and through collaboration with the CTE Digital Design and Animation (DDA) II class under CTE teacher, Mr. George Brown, a promotional flyer was created. It hangs in various classrooms and hallways and is highlighted on school-based digital platforms to showcase CTE as the bridge from classroom to industry, inclusive of work-based learning opportunities.
Southwest Guilford High School's Newest Certified Nursing Assistants
Congratulations to Southwest Guilford High School's newest CNAs from Mrs. Kristen Dusek's CTE Health Science Education class. The school had a 100 percent pass rate for students taking the Nurse Aide I Exam in the Fall 2022 semester. With this stackable credential, CNAs are qualified to work directly under the supervision of a nurse or doctor to help patients with daily living and other healthcare tasks. CNAs have job specific duties that are primarily related to direct patient care. Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2020 to 2030, this occupation is expected to grow at a rate of 8%, which is much faster than than the average growth rate for all jobs.
hard work never looked so good
The CTE Construction Core class from Weaver Academy (WA) visited Master Craftsman, Mr. Jim Gallucci, at his Iron-Works Shop. Students were not only given demonstrations about forging red hot metal into petals and leaf forms with stems, but were surprised when they were given a chance to create their own items using forging tools. The skilled craft of Ironworking uses a variety of tools familiar to students such as grinders, mallets and chisels, but also introduced them to new tools such as an Iron-core Anvil, pneumatic belt sanders, forging hammers and tongs used to remove the red- hot iron rods from the gas fired oven. Students learned that working in a blacksmith shop is fairly comfortable when temps are cool but can get extremely hot in the warmer months. Iron work is a skilled trade and contributes to the installation and maintenance of the metal used to support roads, bridges, buildings, and landscape decorum. It is physically demanding work and there are times when the weather elements are battled, but it is rewarding work that provides creative gratification and offers high earning potential.
Through this experience, students were encouraged to attend a Pour-Event which promises to be a unique spectacle as molten metal is carefully poured into molds for various artful creations. Mr. Gallucci was an excellent host with many decades of experience in the iron working field to be shared with students. Gallucci informed that many of his art pieces can be visited and viewed in many states across the country giving him a wider reach of impact for the greater good.
REAL STEPS TO CAREER PREPAREDNESS
In January, Southwest Guilford High School's (SWHS) CTE students of Mrs. Nita Canon, a Health Science teacher, went to High Point University (HPU) for an educational tour and to discover work-based learning opportunities. They had a meaningful experience visiting HPU's nursing facility, participating in medical simulations, learning about Biomechanics, and touring the Cadaver Lab. Exposing students to post-secondary options help to inform their future pathways. "Each Student's Path. Each Graduate. Each Day." is valued in Guilford County Schools.
Broad Multidisciplinary field of agriculture Making a Difference
January 2023 ushered in excitement at Southern Guilford High School as the CTE Agriculture (AG) Department celebrated the grand opening of their new Feed and Hay Storage shed. The shed was made possible by a $15,000 Agricultural Education Programs Improvement Grant through the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. This feed and storage shed will work in conjunction with the school’s 2500 square foot animal facility that opened in 2019. Both building structures enhance students’ endless learning opportunities in the areas of livestock and poultry production, facility maintenance, and animal nutrition. Agriculture remains the top industry in North Carolina and through the CTE AG Department, students are prepared for careers in this industry that yields positive employment outlook and growing job opportunities. We thank the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for their endless support of Agriculture Education programs in Guilford County, and across North Carolina.
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS
Scholars returned from the winter break to study careers in the Media Production Career Pathway, at High Point Andrews High School. Students surrounded Clinton “CJ” Bartley as he engineered the sound of Lawrence “Dante” James’ new song using Adobe Audition in Mr. Denzel Fleming’s CTE Digital Design and Animation class. Marquis Hoskins, a recording artist and student-athlete, watched in excitement after discussing his forthcoming Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals. Tate Barley overheard music coming from the Apple Mac and decided Dante’s song would be perfect for his live streams as he pursues a streaming career. Students learn that their hobbies can turn into career aspirations. CTE is the Ultimate Classroom to Career Experience that provides a pathway to guide students towards discovering their passions through identifying natural aptitudes and interests.
PEER-to-Peer Career mentoring
Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from High Point Central High School came together to mentor and work with other students in the school's Exceptional Children (EC) department. Over the past few semesters, CTE Networking teacher, Mr. Dale Watkins, and EC teacher, Ms. Amory Sparger collaborated to join their classes to work on a networking project. The students in the adaptive curriculum (AC) wanted to build Internet cables as their career-themed project. Students in the CTE networking curriculum shared their knowledge and skill to mentor their peers and help make this project a success. This collaboration led to the mentees in the AC classroom surprising their teachers with a live demonstration of their new learning. Angel, Henry, and James were able to demonstrate to the other AC classes how cables were built and properly connected to provide Internet service. Each student disconnected their teachers’ computer cables and replaced them with their newly made Ethernet cables. The big question was, “Can the teachers still connect to the Internet?” The answer was, “Yes”. All of the cables the students built passed the Internet connectivity test and the teachers were able to reconnect. Students mentoring students through a learning process empowered all involved.
GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL middle school STUDENT EARNS CERTIFICATION IN Microsoft OFFICE 2019
Congratulations to Zachary Payne, an 8th grade student at Guilford eLearning University Prep, on being the first GCS middle school student to earn an industry-recognized credential, Microsoft Word 2019 certification. Guilford eLearning University Prep is one of several GCS middle schools participating in the Microsoft Office Specialist credentialing pilot program. Zachary is an excellent example of his CTE teacher's, Ms. Cephonia Gilmore, favorite quote, "dedication and perseverance is the key to your future". He has been an eLearner since the 6th grade and has been very dedicated to learning how to use Microsoft Word to perfect the skills needed to format basic and advanced documents and to pass the certification exam. Zachary plans to attend Southern Guilford High School where he anticipates participating in the Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO), Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) to enhance the curriculum learned in the classroom while expanding meaningful work-based learning experiences beyond the classroom. By earning foundational industry credentials in middle school, it provides earlier opportunity for students to stack additional, more advanced credentials in high school.
Guilford eLearning University Prep and GCS CTE is very proud of the commitment and dedication that Zachary has put into learning the skills needed for the 21st century.
A LOOK AHEAD....February 2023
February is Black History Month. We will acknowledge and celebrate the impact pioneers and leaders of the African American community have had in career and society.
GCS CTE Staff
Dr. Holly Pore • CTE Executive Director
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