At Campus High School, Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways are designed to prepare students for life beyond graduation. In a recent interview, CTE Coordinator Jennifer Winter shared insight into the goals, growth, and future of the school’s CTE programs.
“The main goals are just to find out what students are interested in as far as careers go and help them get there,” Winter explained. “They might enroll for one class for an intro level class and say, “Okay, that wasn’t my cup of tea,” and then they pivot and go elsewhere.”
The main goal of CTE at Campus High School is to give students real-world skills that prepare them for both college and career opportunities. The programs are structured to help students explore different fields, gain hands-on experience, and build confidence in their abilities before they leave high school.
When deciding which pathways to offer or expand, such as Health Science or Engineering, Winter said the school considers student interest, workforce demand, and community needs. The district also evaluates job market trends and feedback from local businesses to ensure that students are learning relevant and practical skills.
“It’s ultimately then up to them to enroll in the class, try it out, and see what they think,” said Winter. “Every year we have this thing called the CLNA, the team meets with several counties and local areas to decide what we need as far as different careers, different pathways.”
Students who complete CTE courses often pursue a variety of opportunities after graduation. Some enter the workforce directly with certifications or technical skills, while others continue their education at community colleges, technical schools, or four-year universities.
Winter emphasized that CTE pathways are not limiting; instead, they open multiple doors for students. “Each pathway has an advisory group, which is a group of local industries and businesses that work with the pathway teachers twice a year, talking about what’s going on with the trends in the industry and what's needed and different,” said Winter.
However, students may face challenges when enrolling in or completing CTE programs. Scheduling conflicts, or balancing academic requirements, can sometimes create obstacles. To support students, the school provides guidance counseling, academic planning, and information sessions to help them make informed decisions.
“It might make it a little harder for them (student-athletes) to do some of the shadowing just because of time,” said Winter.
Winter also acknowledged that there weren’t really any certain barriers, but some obstacles, such as sports, can make participation difficult for some students. The school works to reduce these issues by forming partnerships and creating equitable access to programs whenever possible.
Local business and industry partnerships play an important role in the success of CTE programs. Through collaborations with community employers, students gain internship opportunities, job shadowing experiences, and exposure to real-world work environments. These partnerships help students connect classroom learning to actual career pathways.
“Each pathway has an advisory group, which is a group of local industries and businesses that work with the pathway teachers twice a year, talking about what’s going on with the trends in the industry and what's needed and different,” Winter explained. “Then the teachers take that and adjust their class accordingly. So a lot of those advisory groups might come out and talk to the classes and have guest speakers or field trips.”
Looking ahead, Winter hopes to see continued growth in CTE offerings, expanded partnerships, and more opportunities for students before graduation. Her vision is for every student to feel prepared and confident in their next step, whether that means entering the workforce, attending college, or pursuing specialized training.
“What we’re trying to do is just add more of the shadowing and the work-based learning for kids,” she said. “Next school year, they will be adding Law Enforcement, making it the 18th pathway in the Work-Based Learning program.”
Through strong leadership and community support, CTE programs at Campus High School continue to provide students with valuable pathways toward future success. To learn more about the CTE programs and pathways available at Campus High School, visit Campus' CTE Pathways page.