Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE programs and the accomplishments of CTE students across the country.
CTE helps students look into different career opportunities by providing hands-on programs and coursework while still in high school. Students can participate in CTE extra-curricular organizations such as HOSA, FCCLA, FBLA, and SkillsUSA. These organizations help students learn important life skills, including leadership, public speaking, and problem solving. Students can also earn certifications in areas such as First Aid, CPR, ServSafe, Excel, and Construction.
The program areas offered in Yadkin County Schools include Agricultural Education, Business and Marketing Education, Career Development, Computer Science and Information Technology Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Health Science Education, and Trade, Technology, Engineering and Industrial Education. Yadkin County Schools recently added a Firefighter program in collaboration with Surry Community College (SCC). Yadkin Schools offer numerous internship and work-based learning opportunities as well.
Not only do students who participate in CTE courses have a high graduation rate (99.5%), students also have the opportunity to receive certifications through Surry Community College. For example, completing the Certified Nursing Assistant program through SCC while still in high school gives students an advantage as they begin working toward a nursing degree. Additionally, receiving a certification in Word, Excel, or ServSafe can help students gain employment while they are also working on a two- or four-year college degree.
