February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month and I am thrilled to celebrate this life-altering work as part of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s education initiative, ElevateEdAZ team. ElevateEdAZ is helping prepare Arizona students for college and career success, which is in direct alignment with the goals and outcomes of CTE. At our partner schools in the Phoenix Union High School District and Mesa Public Schools, we work closely with CTE programs aligning to high-wage, high-demand industries including Aerospace, Automotives, Business Management and Administration, Construction, Engineering, Finance, Health Sciences, IT, Manufacturing, and Marketing. Through these programs, students gain both technical and professional skills that will allow for future career success.
I am passionate about ElevateEdAZ’s CTE work because I have personally benefited from CTE exposure as a student. If you were to ask me about some of my most defining experiences of the past decade, there’s no doubt that almost every single one of them somehow includes, or was influenced by, my involvement with CTE and Career and Technical Student Organizations. As a young woman growing up in a rural community, my Business Management CTE program gave me invaluable skills, connections, and confidence that propelled me to success in my post-secondary endeavors. As I have transitioned into a career in education, I have discovered and lived out my passion for providing students with equitable and meaningful experiences that will challenge them and unearth their potential, just like my experiences have done for me. I know I would not be where I am today without CTE!
Now, as an ElevateEdAZ College and Career Coach, I help our team collaborate with CTE teachers to create engaging career awareness and work-based learning opportunities for students. We have hosted guest speakers, industry tours, and career fairs, while also securing job shadow and internship experiences for upperclassmen. As a result of this work, students will have the opportunity to leave high school with industry-recognized credentials, having completed dual enrollment coursework, and with an obtained wealth of knowledge that will serve them well in the next step of their college and career pathways. Not only is it fun to bring real-world learning to our students; it is also incredibly rewarding to observe how much they grow personally and professionally through CTE programs. Nothing is more satisfying than watching a student seize the opportunities given to them through ElevateEdAZ and continue to thrive.
positively change a student’s trajectory forever. I am honored to be a product of Career and Technical Education and to continue to support CTE programs as a College and Career Coach for ElevatedEdAZ.
About ElevateEdAZ
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s education initiative, ElevateEdAZ prepares individuals for college and career through stronger alignment between education, business, and the community. Click here to learn how we are engaging businesses to better prepare high school students for college and career.