Published On: March 7th, 2016By Leticia Fehling

Eisenhower High School Celebrates CTE Month

The wide range of programs prepare students for high-demand careers and college success.

Eisenhower-High-School-Career-Month-Council-Member-Amanda-Edwards-1

Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards (front, left) attended the event at Eisenhower HS

[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]S[/dropcap]tudents and staff at Eisenhower High School took time to raise postsecondary awareness. The campus celebrated Career and Technical Education Month® in February.

This year’s theme is “Opportunities for Career Success.” CTE Month is a national initiative. It highlights how CTE programs are preparing students for college and career success. Students get a chance to explore career pathways early in their educational years. The programs offer academic, technical and employable skills necessary for career success.

Aldine ISD offers [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]16 career clusters. Students can earn certifications such as Microsoft Office Specialist and Auto Service Excellence. They can become certified as a nurse assistant, emergency medical technician, pharmacy technician, and much more.

CTE programs prepare students for high-wage, high-demand career fields. Popular programs include welding and animation.

“CTE programs play a crucial role in readying students for careers,” said Ibarra. “They provide students with the latest technology and skills. Students get an edge as well as ensuring they are prepared for the 21st century workforce.“

[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]CTE encompasses 94 percent of high school students and has 13 million postsecondary students in the United States. This includes career centers, community and technical colleges, four-year universities and more.

District CTE Programs Include the Following:

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources[/li] [li] Architecture & Construction [/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Arts, A/V Technology & Communication[/li] [li] Business Management & Administration [/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Education & Training[/li] [li] Finance [/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Health Science[/li] [li] Hospitality & Tourism [/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Human Services[/li] [li] Information Technology [/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security[/li] [li] Marketing, Sales & Service [/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)[/li] [li] Engineering Computer-Aided Design [/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Aeronautics[/li] [li] Transportation, Distribution & Logistics [/li][/ul]

These classes integrate academics with technical skill development. This prepares students for higher-level courses in college or postsecondary trade school. Some middle schools offer limited CTE classes and most high schools offer a wide range of CTE classes.

Eisenhower High School recently hosted its second annual career event. Professionals from the community represented the 16 career clusters.

Students got to speak with CEOs of companies as well as judges. College representatives were also present.

The event gave students the chance to speak to the representatives in careers of interest. They also explored areas they hadn’t considered.

Representatives also shared scholarship information and summer job opportunities.

Many parents as well as Ike graduates currently attending college attended. Eisenhower graduate and Council Member Amanda Edwards was also present. She shared Proclamations from Mayor Sylvester Turner and Council Member Jerry Davis.

Edwards also inspired the students with stories about her time at Eisenhower High School. She discussed her educational journey and political career.

For information about CTE programs in Aldine ISD, contact Franklin Higgins at (281) 985-6650. Higgins is director of CTE. Individuals can also visit the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]department’s website.