Imagine if schools prepared students for college and the world of work. Imagine if students graduated from high school with more than a diploma but also college credit and the credentials needed to immediately land high-paying high-tech jobs. 

 You might be imagining what’s known as Career and Technical Education (CTE), an educational model already firmly embraced in Canyons. From specialty programs like the Canyons Technical Education Center, to classes taught in CSD’s high schools in partnership with local businesses, CTE is an increasingly popular learning emphasis for students — and employers love it too.

 “CTE is basically where you’re taking all of the learning from your other core subjects and applying it to a real world context,” says Mark Mataya, Administrator at Entrada Adult High School. “we’re providing a seed for that student to say, ‘I can grow this into whatever I want.’ The bounds are endless.”

 February is National CTE Month and in this episode of Connect Canyons, Mataya lays out the ways CTE courses can help students, whether they aspire to study at one of the world’s leading universities or are looking to inherit the family business. 

 Every student should take at least one CTE class, Mataya says, noting these courses can open doors to unexpected futures. 

 One student, he recalls, attended a lecture by a chef in a culinary class and took the initiative to talk with the chef after, securing an internship. Now that student is the head chef at one of the top restaurants in Utah. “You can take your alpha type student, your Sterling Scholars, you put them into one of these trades and they would dominate, maybe learn to start their own business,” says Mataya, “I think most parents would be happy to have a child start their own business.”

 Mataya also talks about his excitement for the possibilities at the newly purchased eBay building which the District is transforming into an innovation center to house and build upon many of the District’s existing CTE learning pathways.

 “One of the pillars of the District is innovation,” says Mataya, “There’s something about when you take a learning environment and make it as real as it can be. It brings gravitas to it. When a student walks into those situations, they know something is different. We’re here trying to make it relatable to students and provide skills for them to go out there and have success.”

Episode Chapters

01:12 Business Collaborations and Programs

Our expert, Mark Mataya shares how Canyons School District works with a number of local businesses to provide real world experience for students while opening doors for internships and jobs directly out of high school. 

04:47 Real-World Experience through CTE

Mataya expands on how that real world experience can help students to make the transition from the classroom to the workforce. He shares his excitement for the newly purchased eBay building which will become the District’s new innovation center. 

07:41 Entrepreneurial Spirit in CTE

Some may think CTE classes are just for someone who wants to join the family business or learn a trade. Our expert explains how CTE classes can help everyone from someone who is looking to learn a specific skillset to a sterling scholar with their eyes on beginning their own business.

10:32 Inspiring Student Success Stories

Mataya shares one success story on how attending a single class led a Canyons student to a be the chef at one of the top restaurants in the state, and encourages other students to consider even one CTE class to help them on the journey to achieving their dreams after high school.