Every February, we celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, a time to recognize the incredible impact of CTE programs in preparing students for high-demand careers. Whether it’s healthcare, information technology, skilled trades, or business, CTE equips students with the skills, experience, and confidence to succeed in the workforce.
What is CTE?
Career and Technical Education bridges the gap between traditional academics and hands-on learning, providing students with career-focused training that leads to certifications, apprenticeships, and even college credit. These programs help students discover their passions while gaining real-world experience.
Key Aspects of CTE:
✅ Career-Focused Learning: CTE programs cover industries like healthcare, information technology, skilled trades, business, agriculture, and more.
✅ Hands-On Experience: Students gain real-world skills through labs, simulations, apprenticeships, and internships.
✅ Industry Certifications: Many programs offer credentials that make students job-ready right after high school.
✅ College & Career Readiness: CTE prepares students for both immediate careers and higher education opportunities.
We want to also thank all of our dedicated staff around the network for their hard work in making these CTE pathways and programs a reality! Let’s look at how CTE has been implemented across our network so far this school year:
CEC Aurora:
CEC Aurora now offers a Construction Pathway as part of our CTE initiatives! Earlier this school year, students built birdhouses in the Construction pathway.
CEC Castle Rock
CEC Castle Rock has a brand new Drone Soccer team! They have their equipment and are in training – hoping to compete with the 18 Drone Soccer teams in Colorado!
The CEC Castle Rock HOSA Student Organization also hosted a panel of Health Industry Professionals to discuss their careers and to take questions from our student body about Careers in Health and Medical Industries! They have also partnered with their local hospital who has donated supplies to their classroom.
CEC Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs has launched a Robotics competition team and have been successful in finding multiple sponsors to help them compete! CECCS Middle School’s Robotics competition teams competed in Cherry Hill Village last weekend! Two of the high school competition teams will be competing in Fort Collins this weekend.
CEC Douglas County North
CECDC North students competed in their first DECA District conference. Up against Regis, Cherry Creek, Legend, and other top schools, our students all placed in the top 20 for their events! Isaac G. made it to the DECA State competition where he’ll be joining over 3,000 students from all over Colorado!
Students in the Nurse Aid pathway at DC North learn essential skills to prepare them for a career in healthcare!
CEC Fort Collins
CECFC had 3 teams in Ohio a few weeks ago competing in the Kalahari Classic Signature Robotics competition.
CECFC Principles of Construction class built the set for the fall play. This included working French doors, a single door, two sets of stairs and a raised platform (backstage for entrances and exits).
CEC Windsor
A group of CECW Aviation students volunteered at NoCo’s very first Drone Airshow! Our aviation pathway helps students become inspired by the field of aviation.
To learn more about CEC and all the different programs offered, you can browse our schools from around the network!
