CTE Spotlight, November 2025

November 2025

Please forward this newsletter to teachers, staff, and colleagues.

Updates

VCOE Career Education

CDE - State

CEC Updates:

The application portal for the Pilot Product Innovation Design course as well as Advanced Naval Technology for the spring semester is open until December 5th. Students can apply here.

CTEIG:

Congratulations to all Round 11 preliminary awardees!
Preliminary Allocations Round 11 Fiscal Year 2025-26 are now available via the CDE website.

K12 Strong Workforce Program:

1:1 Quarterly Check-In date options sent to CTE Leads.
This is time to review expenditures, work plan progress and answer any grant related questions.

K16 Collaborative:

K–16 Regional Collaborative planning a campus site visit.
Highlight successes and understand daily operations
Explore ways the collaborative can provide support
Inform regional planning and strengthen partnerships

VCOE Hosts Annual Industry & Education Summit

On October 28, the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE), in partnership with the Ventura County Community College District, the Ventura County Industry Council, and the Ventura County Workforce Development Board, hosted the 2nd Annual Industry and Education Summit.

This year’s summit expanded to include Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Engineering, and Advanced Manufacturing, providing an even broader platform for collaboration. The event brought together 70 K–12 educators, postsecondary faculty, and industry partners to share their expertise and develop high-quality, industry-informed projects aligned with state Career Technical Education (CTE) standards.

Over the next several months, teachers and students will work on these projects in preparation for the Student Showcase on May 6. We look forward to reconvening at the Showcase to see the ideas of the next generation of innovators come to life!

CTE Collaborative

Somis Shines in CTE Collaborative

On Friday, October 31, Career Technical Education (CTE) leaders from across Ventura County gathered at Somis School for the CTE Collaborative. After receiving key updates from the Career Education Department, attendees heard from Superintendent Dr. Vaca, who highlighted Somis School’s innovative career education programs.

Through strong community partnerships, Somis is now in its second year of offering an Agricultural Automation program, where students are learning to grow blueberries using automation technology, and a Media program, where students gain hands-on experience by producing their own podcasts.

Leaders were able to tour both the garden and media studio as well as hear from three current students about their positive experiences within the programs. All three students impressed attendees with their confidence, technical knowledge, and enthusiasm for continuing to learn and grow through hands-on experiences.

Upcoming Events for Students

Hackathon by the Sea is turning 10, and this milestone year brings a reimagined, two-part event designed to ignite student creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. This isn’t just a coding competition, it’s an opportunity for students who love to design, innovate, and think big to tackle real-world challenges alongside their peers.

Encourage your students to register and be part of this dynamic experience where ideas come to life and future innovators shine. Let’s celebrate a decade of creativity and build what’s next, together!

Upcoming Events for Educators