United ISD Celebrates Career and Technical Education Month
Written by admin, Feb 7, 2017, Comments Off
Courtesy Veronica Cantu,
Laredo, Texas-United ISD: With the theme, Celebrate Today, Own Tomorrow, participants in United Independent School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program joined others from across the nation in recognizing the month of February as “National Career and Technical Education Month.” CTE programs can be found in high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges, and four-year universities. These programs offer courses that are specifically designed to prepare students for high-wage and high-demand careers. At United ISD, the CTE program offers high school students various field options, known as “career clusters.” In many cases, students can earn a certification for their chosen field while still in high school.
“I am very proud of the District’s CTE program and the wide range of field options our high school students can pursue,” said United ISD Superintendent Roberto J. Santos. “These range from oil and gas production, to tax accounting, computer networking, and diesel technology, just to name a few.”
The full range of United ISD’s CTE Career Clusters include: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Arts, A/V Technology, and Communication; Business Management and Administration; Education and Training; Finance; Government and Public Administration; Health Science; Hospitality and Tourism; Marketing; Manufacturing; Information Technology; Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); and Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics.
Additionally, students enrolled in the District’s CTE courses are encouraged to earn industry certifications, which recognize mastery of the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the respective fields. CTE students also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in the real world through participation in various internships and practicums, as the District has affiliations with many local businesses, hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, and governmental entities.
“United ISD CTE classes offer our students rigor and relevance–a real-world experience,” said CTE Director Angelica Sanchez. “We maintain contacts with the business community so that we can provide the latest technology, skills, and training to our students to ultimately prepare them to become successful employees and future leaders.”
According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, CTE encompasses 94 percent of high school students and 13 million postsecondary students in the United States. At a time when opportunity for employment is so critical, CTE programs ensure that students are equipped with the skills to successfully enter the workforce.
For more information about the United ISD CTE program, call (956) 473-2147 or 473-2117.
