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METROPOLITAN EDUCATION DISTRICT
June 4, 2026
CTE Newsletter Vol. 12 Issue 9
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- SVAE Graduation
- SVCTE Awards Ceremony
- Teacher of the Year
- Classified School Employee of the Year
- SVCTE Dual Enrollment Completion
- SVCTE Car Show
- EV Tesla Internship
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- SVAE Perfect CASAS Score
- Industry Connections with Wacom
- SVAE Welding Certifications
- SVCTE Film Festival
- SVCTE Animation Festival
- SVAE International Day
- SVCTE Fashion Pop-Up
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Greetings!
Some months feel like a highlight movie reel, and this is one of them, literally and figuratively! Across both Silicon Valley Career Technical Education and Silicon Valley Adult Education, our students, staff, and community showed up in ways that remind me exactly why this work matters.
Our SVCTE Awards Ceremony recognized more than 100 students for their hard work and growth this year. At SVAE, 35 graduates crossed the stage ready for their next chapter, joined by scholarship recipients who are already investing in what comes next. And eleven SVAE Metals Technology students earned welding certifications — real, industry-recognized credentials that open real doors.
Our students are connecting to careers. Four SVCTE Electric Vehicles/Automotive Services students were accepted into Tesla's Pathway to START Internship Program, a remarkable achievement and a reflection of the quality of preparation happening in our programs every day. Animation student Sonora Rose Ilse built a meaningful connection with Wacom that we hope will grow into lasting opportunities for future students. That's exactly how partnerships are born.
Our staff are the reason students leave here more capable, more confident, and more connected to their futures. Automotive instructor Nathan Chukes was named Teacher of the Year, and Florencio Peña was recognized as Classified School Employee of the Year. Both are richly deserving, and both reflect what MetroED is at its best.
Our community came alive. The Bob McTaggart 20th Annual Custom & Classic Car Show brought together students, families, industry partners, and neighbors in a celebration that also raised support for SkillsUSA, twenty years strong and still growing. Our Film and Animation Festivals showcased student storytelling and their technical skills in front of engaged audiences.
The Fashion Design & Textile Arts Pop-Up gave students a real entrepreneurial experience, putting their work in front of customers, not just classrooms. And SVAE's International Day was a beautiful reminder of the rich cultures and lived experiences our students bring to this campus every single day.
Taken together, these moments are not coincidences. They are the result of intentional programs, committed staff, and students who are willing to work hard to create a future that is meaningful and prosperous. I am proud of all of them.
Inspire. Engage. Connect for Careers, College, and Life
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Erin O'Neill
Superintendent
| | Meet the 35 Adult Graduates | | |
SVAE held its graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 28, for 17 High School Diploma graduates and 18 High School Equivalency completers. MetroED Superintendent Erin O’Neill presented diplomas and certificates to the graduating class. Dr. Vinicio Lopez, President of Evergreen Valley College, was the keynote speaker.
| | 14 graduates were awarded $7,300 in scholarships, supported by partnerships with organizations including The McKinley Educational Initiative, Los Altos Sunset Rotary Club, MetroED Foundation, and former superintendent Alyssa Lynch. Sylvia Marie Martinez received the Lifelong Learner award, while Jennifer Ashford received the Outstanding Graduate award. | | SVCTE Celebrates More Than 100 Student Award Recipients | | |
SVCTE proudly hosted its 57th Annual Awards Ceremony on May 15, recognizing the achievements of more than 100 students for their dedication and excellence in career and technical education.
Students were awarded tools, equipment, and scholarships—resources to support their transition into the workforce or further education. Support for these scholarships comes from partnering organizations, including the Los Bomberos of Northern California, San Jose Technical High Alumni Association, SJFD/SJPD Retirement Board, Stanford Blood Center, Silicon Valley Fraternal Order of Police, MetroED Foundation, McKinley Educational Initiative, Los Altos Sunset Rotary Club, West Valley-Mission Community College, and former MetroED Superintendent Alyssa Lynch.
| Teacher of the Year: Nathan Chukes | | |
Nathan Chukes, SVCTE Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing teacher with 25 years of service with MetroED, has been named MetroED’s Teacher of the Year. Nathan will be honored at the 56th Santa Clara County Office of Education Teacher Recognition Celebration in the fall. Of Chukes, his colleagues shared:
“Nathan Chukes embodies what career technical education is at its best. He lived the path his students are walking, built real expertise in industry, and is passing it on. For 25 years, his classroom has been a place where the learning is real, the standards are high, and every student knows he is in their corner.”
| Classified School Employee of the Year: Florencio Pena | | |
Florenico Pena, MetroED Custodian/Van Driver/Receiving with 5 years of service with MetroED, has been named MetroED’s Classified School Employee of the year. Of Pena, his colleagues shared:
“Florencio came to MetroED during a pandemic and showed up for our community when it mattered most. More than five years later, that same dedication and pride in his work is felt across our entire campus every single day. He shows up, he cares, and everyone on our campus benefits from his work.”
| SVCTE Celebrates Dual Enrollment Completion | |
SVCTE is proud to offer dual enrollment opportunities that help students with getting a head start on their college and career pathways. Classes that provide dual enrollment opportunities include Electrical Vehicles/Automotive Services, Construction Technology, Film & Video Production, Fire Science/First Responder, Forensic Science, and Sports Medicine & Kinesiology. Learn about dual enrollment at SVCTE here.
SVCTE Electrical Vehicles/Automotive Services students celebrated their achievements through dual enrollment with Evergreen Valley College.
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Community Gathers for the Bob McTaggart 20th
Annual Car Show
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Hundreds of community members, car enthusiasts, students, and families gathered on Friday, May 1st, for the Bob McTaggart 20th Annual Custom & Classic Car Show, held at the MetroED campus. The event featured an impressive showcase of nearly 100 custom and classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bikes. Guests enjoyed live music, raffle prizes, and delicious food prepared and served by SVCTE’s Culinary Arts students. The raffle and silent auction included a variety of unique items, many handcrafted by students, highlighting the creativity and talent found across campus. Proceeds directly support SVCTE’s SkillsUSA chapter, helping students compete and excel in regional and national competitions.
This year, the event raised over $11,000. Included in the total, longtime partner Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) contributed a generous $5,000 donation to the MetroED Foundation, furthering its investment in student success.
| | Four SVCTE Electrical Vehicles/Automotive Service students selected for Tesla Pathway to START Internship | | Pictured above: Benjamin Bulygo | | Pictured above: Steven Hernandez | | Pictured above: Demetri Vega Candelaria | | Pictured above: Cristina Zamora Ramirez | | |
Through a partnership with Tesla, SVCTE Electrical Vehicles/Automotive Services students Benjamin Bulygo (Adult), Demetri Vega Candelaria from Campbell Union High School District, Cristina Zamora Ramirez, and Steven Hernandez from East Side Union High School District have been accepted into Tesla’s Pathway to START Internship Program, an intensive eight-week electric vehicle service training program designed to introduce participants to careers in the automotive industry while building fundamental mechanical and electrical skills.
Students who successfully complete the internship may advance to Tesla’s START Program, an intensive 16-week training experience where they receive advanced technical training and develop the skills necessary for careers at Tesla. Upon successful completion of both programs, graduates become eligible for full-time employment opportunities with Tesla.
| | English Language Learner Earns Perfect CASAS Score at SVAE | | |
Hanene El Malleh, an SVAE English language learner, earned a perfect score on the CASAS assessment, a nationally recognized test used to measure English language proficiency and academic skills in adult education. In her very first year living in the United States, Malleh has already achieved an incredible milestone by scoring 251 in reading and 235 in listening, the highest possible score at her level.
Originally from Tunisia in North Africa, Hanene came to California with a strong academic background, holding a Master’s degree in geology. As a new immigrant adapting to life in a new country, she enrolled at SVAE to strengthen her English skills, support her children as they adjusted to school in the U.S., and create new career opportunities for herself.
Hanene shared that her experience at SVAE has been “very important” and credited her teachers and classmates for helping her build confidence and improve quickly. “It has helped me improve my English and successfully adapt to life in the United States,” Hanene shared. It has also given me a better chance to attend job interviews, increase my employment opportunities, and adjust more confidently to the workplace environment.”
| SVCTE Animation Student Turns Online Success into Opportunities for Classmates with Wacom | |
Sonora Rose Ilse's success as an SVCTE Animation student has helped open new doors for the course, creating opportunities that will benefit future SVCTE Animation students for years to come.
“Wacom contacted me and wants to form a long-term relationship where my SVCTE students will have opportunities to animate promotional material for Wacom in exchange for free equipment,” said Animation teacher Eric Whitman.
Known online as “Cowgirl Nanners” on YouTube, Sonora been using her creativity, talent, and initiative to build industry connections with Wacom, the makers of the professional drawing tablets used in SVCTE Animation classrooms.
With more than 10,000 YouTube followers, Sonora creates animation and art-related content, including product reviews that have earned her professional-grade tablets and paid opportunities. Her success has also helped open the door for an exciting partnership opportunity between Wacom and the SVCTE Animation course.
Read about how she is chasing her animation dreams here.
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11 SVAE Metals Technology Students Earn Industry
Welding Certificates
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After completing 140 hours of hands-on training and dedicated coursework, 11 SVAE Metals Technology (Welding) students have earned welding certifications across a variety of specialized skills, including Arc, Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), and aluminum welding. Through the program, students developed industry-relevant technical skills and gained valuable experience to prepare them for future career opportunities in the skilled trades. These certifications represent an important milestone and provide students with a strong foundation as they take their next steps toward the workforce and career success.
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The Ninth Annual SVCTE Film Festival on May 20 drew a packed house for an unforgettable evening of student storytelling and creativity. A total of 24 original films were screened—each one acted, created, produced, and directed by students in the Film & Video Production course.
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One of the evening’s highlights was the Future Filmmaker Award, presented by teacher Jonathan Furtado to students Lukas Leu (pictured left) from Santa Clara Union High School District and Samantha Nunes (pictured right) from San Jose Unified School District for their exceptional commitment and multiple standout films.
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It was a full house at SVCTE’s Animation Festival on Thursday, May 21. 25 student-created animated films premiered on the big screen, giving students the opportunity to showcase the incredible work they’ve poured their time, imagination, and passion into throughout the year.
| SVAE International Day Celebrates Culture and Community | | |
On May 7, students shared their cultures and traditions through singing, dancing, and readings. The celebration highlighted the many backgrounds represented at SVAE and the connections students continue to build with one another every day.
| | SVCTE Fashion Students Host Pop-Up | | |
SVCTE Fashion Design & Textile Arts students showcased their creativity and entrepreneurial skills during their annual Fashion Pop-Up on Friday, May 1, offering a variety of handmade items, including jewelry, tote bags, screen-printed shirts, and more. The event gave students an opportunity to apply their design talents in a real-world setting while gaining experience in marketing, customer engagement, and selling their work. Students raised $1,390 to support future class projects and field trips.
| | Get Even More Updates—Follow Us on Social Media! | | |
Love this monthly newsletter? There’s even more to see! While we share key highlights here, our social media channels keep you connected every day with real-time updates, events, student stories, and more.
Every student has a story, and the photos above capture some of the learning, creativity, and determination happening across our CTE and adult education programs shared on our social media. We look forward to connecting with you.
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Shine a Spotlight: Share the Stories That Make
Our District Shine
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MetroED is celebrating the amazing work happening across our District through the Shine a Spotlight campaign. From innovative classroom projects to student achievements and behind-the-scenes efforts, countless stories showcase creativity, dedication, and impact.
We invite our community partners, school leaders, and stakeholders to share your stories so we can highlight the people and programs making a difference.
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Positions are Available at MetroED!
We are currently seeking applicants that would be an excellent fit for our team. The district pays full health benefits to eligible employees and their dependents, including dental, life, and an employee assistance program. You can click below to learn more.
MetroED Current Openings
| | MetroED Governing Board Information | |
MetroED Governing Board Meeting
To see past meeting minutes and agendas, please visit our webpage. You can also view upcoming MetroED Governing Board meeting agendas and Governing Board Policies.
Next meeting: August 12, at 7:00 p.m. | In-person, SVCTE Auditorium, Room 201
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June 8-26 | SVCTE CTE Summer Exploration (No School June 19)
June 19 | Juneteenth (Legal Holiday/Campus Closed)
July 4 | (Legal Holiday/Campus Closed)
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