San Angelo ISD Celebrates ‘CTE Month’

SAN ANGELO, TX - February is Career and Technical Education Month in recognition of the value of CTE programs in a student’s educational experience.

“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,” the school district stated. 

Information from the school states that over the last several years, SAISD has implemented valuable partnerships within our community to enhance the educational experience for our students following our CTE pathways in high school. 

The STEM2D Symposium Series hosted by Ethicon and Angelo State University offered an exclusive four-part series to our seniors graduating with a STEM endorsement. 

The Shannon Health Science Symposium Series hosted by Shannon Health, Howard College, and Angelo State University offered an exclusive four-part series to our seniors graduating with a health science endorsement. 

Both symposiums gave students insight into the post-secondary educational and career opportunities available to them right here in San Angelo and encouraged a future in manufacturing, engineering, and healthcare. 

“The partnership between SAISD and the community provides valuable opportunities for our students, whether they choose to attend college or enter the workforce after graduation,” said SAISD Director of Career and Technical Education Roxanne Fentress. “Our goal is to introduce students to potential educational and employment possibilities that they might otherwise not know. Additionally, our community and industry partners are provided access to potential employees that have received skills training in high-demand occupations.”

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. 

According to San Angelo ISD, 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.

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 who are certified adjunct faculty. 

Students can become certified in 15 different areas through state-approved Industry-Based Certifications, 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, and the potential to advance to state and national competitions and scholarship opportunities.