Oneida School District
Maximizing the Learning Potential in All Students
|
|
|
|
|
Message from the Superintendent
Celebrate CTE! (by Rachel Madsen, SEITec Administrator)
February is CTE month, where nationwide we take a minute to celebrate career and technical education. When SEITec started eight years ago, we were fighting an "uphill" battle to educate students and parents about the importance of skilled workers! But now it seems the tides have turned and employers, parents, and students are realizing how valuable it is to have a MARKETABLE SKILL! Yes, it's true! If you want to get a good job, you need some post-high school training (most call this college, though I am speaking of any training after high school). Statistics prove that one of the best decisions you can make it to invest in yourself! However, I have recently been reminded of how many students go to a four-year university and pay thousands of dollars just to "get a degree" - then end up working a minimum wage job after college graduation.
My sister, age 49, recently lost her husband to cancer. She has 4 children under the age of 19 and is now the sole provider for them. She went to school and got a Master’s Degree at an early age– but there are few to no jobs for someone with a Master’s Degree in Human and Family Development. While her education has helped her as a mother, she has spent the past three years (while caring for a very sick husband), going back to school to become certified as a teacher while working full-time. Watching her endure the past few years has caused me to reflect on how important it is to choose wisely when we decide on our post-secondary education. Looking at some of the following information can help students in deciding what career pathway to pursue: 1. Where do I want to live? (rural jobs vs. urban jobs) 2. What is the job outlook like? What industries are predicted to be in high-demand? (check out labor.idaho.gov) 3. What kind of lifestyle do I want to live? Do I want to work with people? Shift work? Physically-demanding or desk job? What kind of salary will I need to live my ideal lifestyle? 4. What makes me happy? What are my unique talents/gifts/skills/abilities? What comes easily to me?
Parents can sit down with their students at an early age and start having these kinds of conversations. Exposing students to a variety of careers and exploratory opportunities also helps open their mind to possibilities. Students can take advantage of a variety of CTE and other elective courses at their high school to help them determine if a specific career pathway is right for them. Learning that a class is NOT a good fit for them is just as valuable as discovering something they are passionate about!
February is CTE month, where nationwide we take a minute to celebrate career and technical education. When SEITec started eight years ago, we were fighting an "uphill" battle to educate students and parents about the importance of skilled workers! But now it seems the tides have turned and employers, parents, and students are realizing how valuable it is to have a MARKETABLE SKILL! Yes, it's true! If you want to get a good job, you need some post-high school training (most call this college, though I am speaking of any training after high school). Statistics prove that one of the best decisions you can make it to invest in yourself! However, I have recently been reminded of how many students go to a four-year university and pay thousands of dollars just to "get a degree" - then end up working a minimum wage job after college graduation.
My sister, age 49, recently lost her husband to cancer. She has 4 children under the age of 19 and is now the sole provider for them. She went to school and got a Master’s Degree at an early age– but there are few to no jobs for someone with a Master’s Degree in Human and Family Development. While her education has helped her as a mother, she has spent the past three years (while caring for a very sick husband), going back to school to become certified as a teacher while working full-time. Watching her endure the past few years has caused me to reflect on how important it is to choose wisely when we decide on our post-secondary education. Looking at some of the following information can help students in deciding what career pathway to pursue: 1. Where do I want to live? (rural jobs vs. urban jobs) 2. What is the job outlook like? What industries are predicted to be in high-demand? (check out labor.idaho.gov) 3. What kind of lifestyle do I want to live? Do I want to work with people? Shift work? Physically-demanding or desk job? What kind of salary will I need to live my ideal lifestyle? 4. What makes me happy? What are my unique talents/gifts/skills/abilities? What comes easily to me?
Parents can sit down with their students at an early age and start having these kinds of conversations. Exposing students to a variety of careers and exploratory opportunities also helps open their mind to possibilities. Students can take advantage of a variety of CTE and other elective courses at their high school to help them determine if a specific career pathway is right for them. Learning that a class is NOT a good fit for them is just as valuable as discovering something they are passionate about!