Sulphur Springs High School began the month-long celebration of career and technical education programs with a proclamation delivered by Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers designating February as Career and Technical Education Month in the city. SSHS staff and students join schools from across the country in the observance of CTE Month.
Students from several of the school’s CTE classes joined SSHS CTE Director Jenny Arledge in the school library Monday morning to welcome Sellers and be recognized for their participation in career and technical organizations.
Sellers noted the vital role CTE programs provide students in planning for and preparing them for careers. CTE program provide opportunities for students to gain academic, technical and employ-ability skills necessary for true career readiness. Participation in CTE programs provide authentic, meaningful experiences that improve the quality of their education and increase their engagement and achievement, Sellers noted.
CTE allows students to explore career opportunities earlier in their educational experience, which in turn enables them to make more informed decisions about their academic coursework and to pursue programs of study and career pathways.
CTE courses and programs provide integrated programs that can lead to industry-recognized credentials to help bridge the skills gap for qualified professionals business leaders report in healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing and information technology business leaders have been reporting, according to Sellers.
“Ensuring that employers have access to a qualified workforce is a crucial step in ensuring productivity among the business and industry communities as well as continued American economic growth and global competitiveness,” the mayor read from the proclamation.
Sellers urges “all citizens to become familiar with the services and benefits offered by the Career and Technology Education Programs to this community and to support and participate in these programs to enhance individual skills and productivity.”
Arledge asked students involved in various student career and technical organizations, including Business Professionals of America, Future Farmers of America, Health Occupations Students of America, National Technical Honor Society and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America members to stand or raise their hand to be recognized.
“Congratulation. If you’re not involved in a career and technical education program, whatever CTE course that you’re in and you’re coming from today, you have that opportunity to get involved, and I encourage you to do that. That’s going to give you that workplace skills that are going to be competitive in a competitive nature that you get to go and travel and you get to go and compete in different career path areas that are relevant to what you are following as a career,” Arledge said.
