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Career and Technical Education Update
March 2021
Preparing students for successful careers through aligned instruction, focusing on leadership and technical skills, in partnership with and for the benefit of our community
CTE Tours
Members of the General Advisory Council and the Leonard Trust Committee have been invited to tour CTE classrooms at W.F. West High School to get a better idea of the facilities staff and students are using.

CTE teachers have been providing great perspective on the courses taught and the environment in which learning takes place.

The next tour will be led by CTE Director Rick Goble on Wednesday, March 24.
Pictured above, Dr. Mark Giffey, Kirby White, Rick Goble, and Superintendent Dr. Christine Moloney learn from CTE teacher Randy Smith, who teaches Introduction to Metals, Metal Fabrication and Machinery, Engineer Drafting I and II, Woodworking, and Applied Geometry.
Preparing Our Students for the Future
A message from CTE Director Rick Goble
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." I first read these words during my time at community college before I had decided to become a teacher. I had recently finished my tour of duty in the United States Army and was contemplating what career direction to follow. My choice became clear. I wanted to make a difference in the world and I believed I could make the biggest difference in the education field. I still believe that today!

In Chehalis, we have a clear vision of preparing our students for the future. The school district has worked hard to establish strong relationships within our community. At the center of these relationships is the pursuit of common goals defined by our Student Achievement Initiative (SAI). Much time and energy has been devoted to this initiative and through this work our district has developed many key relationships, specifically with The Chehalis Foundation and Centralia College.

The relationship between The Chehalis Foundation and the Chehalis School District is uncommon and like nothing I have experienced in over two decades in the education field. I have seen first hand . . .
Success in the new economy
Bottom line: Explore career choices early
This video was designed to make a case for students to explore career choices early, and make informed decisions when declaring their college education goal. The 10 minute video has been used by Dr. Kevin Fleming to promote more dialogue about acquiring the right knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful in the new economy.

"Our world has changed, and in this new economy, the university degree is no longer the guaranteed path towards financial success, as it was for previous generations. Even if you do earn a degree, that education alone may not be enough.

In today's highly technical knowledge-based economy, having hands-on skills, and perfecting what you're good at can be more valuable than getting a degree in something simply to get one.

Employers want to know what you can do, and do well, not just the degree that hangs on your wall.

Since new and emerging occupations in every industry now require a combination of academic knowledge and technical ability, we need to ensure we are also guiding student towards a career, and not just an institution."

If you want to learn more about Dr. Fleming and his book, Redefining The Goal: The True Path to Career Readiness in the 21st Century, and see more of his videos, use the button below: