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I brought in crayons, career pathway coloring sheets, and lots of dot-to-dot books, from the $1.25 store. Teachers had a blast, coloring, connecting dots, and networking with others at the hospitality event hosted by NGL/Cengage. Yes, the winner got a prize and yes, I donated the left over crayons to Natalie Clark assistant director for CTE at the state department. She was thrilled to take these items back for students.

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Students from Kansas competed for this year's Kansas CTE theme, Connecting the Dots. There were several applicants this year honing in on their Adobe skills.

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Manhappiness, The Little Apple, Manhattan, Kansas, or EMAW, as Amy Crane would say, while I would say LFK! The 2023 Kansas CTE conference had over 500+ attendees this year with the theme Connect the Dots.

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Let's bring something like Pathways back.

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Let's bring something like Pathways back.

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CTE was one of the main reasons I made goal in '20 and '21 and it was Pathways. Let's plan for something in the near future. Finally, this year's winner for CTE in my territory will be....personal financial literacy.

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As I've done research with CTE Administrators and Teachers recently, they have regularly told me in interviews and surveys that we have conducted, that they are thankful Cengage wants to listen to their input and feedback. This is especially as CTE is seen as an afterthought/less important than on-level courses at many of their schools and districts. But these CTE teachers care so much and are passionate about having their students succeed and want to provide them with the best of everything. By us caring and listening, we are helping them feel seen and heard.

Thanks to all those who work with CTE in Cengage Academic Secondary and contribute to assisting CTE teachers and administrators help their students succeed by providing high quality course materials and excellent customer service. Your work is important and matters so much!
~Ah Ra Cho

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In November of last year, I made a big career change. And I LOVE it! Over the fall, I interviewed a dozen or so CTE coordinators, I went to various conferences and ed org meetings, I've been digging into a multitude of market research we've been doing (thank you market research team), and I talked to a lot of the sales team... this is an amazing, and I mean amazing time to be part of CTE. There is so much passion in these educators, authors, product teams, and sales reps. We are positioned really well as an org to really drive share. Our products are best-in-class and we should have tons of swagger. But we have a long way to go to get the growth we need, and the organization right now is looking at CTE as a growth engine. This will mean better solutions for students, better outcomes. By us all pulling together-sales, product, product marketing, etc.-we will drive this growth and help these educators do the amazing work they do, and students succeed in their many pathways choices they have now!

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I was a CTE teacher (Business) and then an Internship Coordinator at a Career High School for many years. My job was to teach students employability skills. I taught students interview skills and how to do resumes. I brought in area business partners to do mock interviews with students and to judge Capstone projects. I went out and found Internships for students for their Senior year of High School based on their chosen pathway. I absolutely loved it. Not only was it rewarding to see students decide they had chosen the right path after their internship but it was also important if they had decided that was not the career path they wanted to take. It saved them lots of time and money in college. I would have become a Career Counselor if I hadn't needed to go back to school for a counseling certificate/degree (already had my Masters and didn't want any more schooling LOL). I feel that teaching students how to be successful outside of school, whether they go to College or straight into the workforce, is one of the most rewarding jobs we have as teachers, parents, grandparents, guardians, etc....
-Heather Rosplock

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A few years ago I was at the HOSA Conf in Anaheim CA.  We had a display of books and one of the books was Surgical Technology for the Surgical Technologist. I noticed a student was very interested in this textbook. So I offered her the display copy to take home. She left me this note and I must say it made my day. So nice to make a difference with a student.

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CTE provides students with the ability to explore their interests and find their passions. Taking various CTE courses can help students moving on to college determine what they would like to major in. For students moving straight on to a career, it can give the the knowledge, experience and certification to secure their first job. For my son, CTE courses have guide him to study Kinesiology.

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I love to have site visits with CTE teachers. They are usually people who have left the professional world to help motivate and inspire their students to continue their work. I have also found that the technical trade teachers love to show off their shops, student work and success stories . I have learned more about HVAC, electricity, automotive repair and welding than I ever thought I would from these passionate educators! They are truly the hidden gems of the K12 system. - Melissa Hancock

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As a previous CTE Teacher and CTSO Advisor, CTE holds a special place in my heart.  I have seen these courses firsthand change the future of students and provide them with opportunities that they may not have otherwise had.  CTE provides career pathways for students in all walks of life and allows them to gain real world experiences.  I recently was given the opportunity to judge at a DECA conference and it was so exciting to see these students apply what they are learning in the classroom.

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I have seen first hand how CTE programs can change student's lives.

I was part of a CTE Department for 10 years that was filled with people that were not only experts in their field, but were passionate about teaching that topic to others.  It was a pleasure to be around these types of people every day.

Many students in our programs did not like traditional subjects and their sole reason for attending school was their CTE class.  CTE courses gave these students an opportunity and a path to success by teaching them valuable skills that could transfer to a career instead of attending a 4-year university.

- P. Nutt

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As a former teacher, the Career and Technology courses were the classes that students seemed to love most. Students are able to jump into their interests at a younger age, explore their learning in an adaptive atmosphere, and have guidance while being educated in a passion. This allows the future of our communities and our society to grow as these students enter the "real" world with these engagements and background knowledge in the specialty they go into. (By: Paula Hickle)

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I met a welding teacher this past week that has been teaching his craft for over 30 years. When I asked him why he has taught his skill for so many years, he responded, "Because it makes a difference in so many students' lives." When I asked him how it makes a difference, he went on to tell me numerous success stories of students, including one about a female welding student who finished his program in 3 years, went on to community college on scholarship, and was immediatley hired by a large company in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was making over $100,000 in the second year on the job (that is how good she welds) and by the 5th year in the company was one of the most respected welders in the community. She married a fellow welder and the two of them now have a very successful welding company of their own (and are only 26 years old). This is just one of many success stories that CTE produces. CTE MAKES A DIFERENCE!
Teresa Dossman

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The Olathe CTE Director, Barbra Gonzales, and her husband, a teacher in Olathe, in their Halloween costumes, copycat (Control C) and a male stripper.

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I love that my community embraces CTE. My nephew was able to take courses and passed his test to become a certified EMT while in high school. He worked the summer after he graduated and on his winter break as an EMT. This hands-on experience has motivated him in his studies at university to hopefully become a doctor. 

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I love that my community embraces CTE. My nephew was able to take courses and passed his test to become a certified EMT while in high school. He worked the summer after he graduated and on his winter break as an EMT. This hands-on experience has motivated him in his studies at university to hopefully become a doctor. 

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-Kara Bombelli

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As a middle school teacher for more than a decade, it was wonderful to reconnect with old students that had found passion and purpose in their lives through their CTE classes, which introduced them to a wealth of career opportunities that a traditional college path most likely would not have afforded them.

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Taking a CTE class in high school helped me decide on my career path! I ended up getting my degree because I loved the class so much.