This month, ResponsiveEd joins schools nationwide in celebrating Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. CTE courses prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers within many different fields, including healthcare, information technology, architecture, construction, and many more. Thanks to an ever-expanding CTE program, students at Premier High School campuses across Texas and Arkansas can receive industry-recognized certifications upon high school graduation. In response to community and employer demand for CTE programs, ResponsiveEd is aggressively expanding CTE options for students.
ResponsiveEd’s newest Director of Career and Technical Learning, Craig Shapiro Ed.D, will lead the expansion effort and give more students access to meaningful career training. Before joining ResponsiveEd, Dr. Shapiro was the Assistant Superintendent for high schools in Austin ISD. While in Austin, he was responsible for creating 17 PTECH programs and opening five early college high schools.
Long gone are the days when students only had one track to success. The use of career and technology programming prepares students for the 21st-century job market in a supportive learning environment.
“I want to get people to dream,” said Dr. Shapiro. The question will no longer be, where did you get your degree? It will be what practical skills the student has that will benefit the company. We want to create a seamless process where our students can add value to their high school experience.”
ResponsiveEd’s mission has always been to provide hope to students through educational options. With enhanced CTE programs that allow students to an associate’s degree or industry-based certification while earning a diploma, students can choose the educational or career pathway that better fits their needs.
“We want to provide a seamless pathway into the workforce, or into education, whatever works best for the individual student,” says Shapiro. “We want our students to see the ‘why’ instead of an aimless approach.”
To learn more about the CTE programs at Premier High Schools, visit the website at www.premierhighschools.com/academics/career-and-technical-education/.
