Summary

In this episode of Talking Shop, Mike Randolph and Martin Aftuck interview Alice Paulk and Kelly Mosley, CTE supervisors, about the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in schools. Alice and Kelly share their personal journeys into CTE and discuss the role of CTE in helping students find their passion and prepare for the workforce. They also highlight the significance of local business partnerships in providing real-world experiences and opportunities for students. The conversation covers topics such as industry certifications, on-the-job training, and the role of college and career coaches in supporting students. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the Clay County Fair and its importance for CTE programs. They highlight the various opportunities and experiences that CTE offers, such as real-world experiences, career and technical student organizations, scholarship opportunities, and mentoring. They also emphasize the life skills that students gain through participating in CTE, such as responsibility, hard work, dedication, and grit. The hosts give a shout-out to local businesses and vendors who support CTE programs and provide special opportunities for students. They also mention the significance of fairs in showcasing students' projects and animals. The conversation ends with a discussion about the Celebrity Swine Showmanship Showdown at the Clay County Fair and the lessons learned from participating in it.

Takeaways

• CTE helps students explore their interests and find their passion early on, allowing them to make informed career choices.
• Local business partnerships play a crucial role in providing real-world experiences and opportunities for students.
• Industry certifications validate students' skills and knowledge, and can lead to job opportunities and college credit.
• On-the-job training (OJT) is not currently offered as a class option in Clay County, but students can work part-time and gain valuable work experience.
• College and career coaches serve as a valuable resource for students, helping them navigate their educational and career paths. CTE programs offer a wide range of opportunities and experiences for students, including real-world experiences, career and technical student organizations, scholarship opportunities, and mentoring.
• Participating in CTE helps students develop important life skills such as responsibility, hard work, dedication, and grit.
• Local businesses and vendors play a crucial role in supporting CTE programs and providing special opportunities for students.
• Fairs, like the Clay County Fair, are important platforms for showcasing students' projects and animals.
• The Celebrity Swine Showmanship Showdown at the Clay County Fair is a unique and valuable experience for both students and educators.

Sound Bites

• "CTE is that connection for a number of our kids to be connected and to show up to school and to engage in school."
• "Our business partners can provide experiences for our students that we can't provide them."
• "Industry certifications...are industry recognized credentials that show students are ready to go to work."
• "Everybody just sees the value of CTE because you get all these real-world experiences."
• "The fair actually, we have probably a thousand exhibitors at our fair."
• "You get to see how much time these kids put into these projects, these animals."