Nansemond River High School recently celebrated CTE month in recognition of its Career and Technical Education programs.

This year’s theme was “Celebrate Today, Own Tomorrow,” underlining the importance of readying today’s students to join the workforce of tomorrow.

The major areas of interest in 2017 included industry-backed certifications, funding, standards, technology and jobs of the future. Surveys reveal that students enrolled in CTE programs are more likely to land a job after graduation. Currently, CTE encompasses 94 percent of high school students, and 8.4 million individuals seeking post-secondary training in CTE fields — numbers that highlight the progress already made towards building a skilled future workforce.

CTE programs and training materials fill a growing need in education programs to train students for promising field like health care, manufacturing and trade. As workforce needs and technologies evolve, CTE will continue to be a cornerstone in education programs, helping to train the next generation of workers. There is a need for comprehensive training opportunities in the industries most projected to grow in the next decade. For example:

• The top 10 hardest-to-fill jobs include skilled trade positions, while health care occupations make up 12 of the 20 fastest growing occupations
• There are one million jobs open in trade, transportation and public utilities sectors, along with 315,000 jobs in manufacturing
• Middle-skill jobs that require education and training beyond school, but less than a bachelor’s degree, constitute a significant part of the economy and workforce

CTE is growing as a valuable pathway to career and postsecondary education success for students. By investing in programs, curriculum materials and tools, we ensure students have what they need to succeed as a skilled worker. When we strengthen career opportunities for students, we see the positive role CTE plays in strengthening economic viability at the local, state and national level.

CTE Month gave the CTE programs the opportunity to inform others how CTE has impacted their lives and community. It’s a call to action to open up a dialogue with all levels of government, an opportunity to raise awareness of how crucial CTE programs are for the future of our education systems, workforce and national economy.

Nansemond River High School hosted a carnival in the cafeteria featuring each of the CTE program areas and had a special visit from Chick-fil-A cow from the Harbour View location.