With the new scheduling for the upcoming school year, students can take advantage of the opportunities the school has to offer. Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes are available to everyone willing to take them. Students are required to take economics and personal finance, which is a CTE class, and they must take either fine arts classes or other CTE classes. CTE Director James “Bo” Bundrick emails students about opportunities and follows up with CTE teachers about their classes.
“CTE classes are vital for high school students as they provide real-world skills, facilitate career exploration, and enhance student engagement by linking learning to practical applications,” Bundrick said in an email. “These programs prepare students with industry-relevant skills for the workforce and higher education, increasing job opportunities and earning potential. By offering pathways to certifications and college credits, CTE bridges the gap between high school and post-secondary education, addressing skills gaps and aligning education with industry demands.”
The nurse aide class is taught by Nicole Spencer and Christie Bundrick and is designed to prepare students to fill a caregiving role and have a good bedside manner in hospitals and nursing homes. Upon successful completion and graduation of this class, students are able to receive their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.
“It gives a hands-on experience in the nursing field,” senior Taylor Waddy said. “There’s a need for CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistant), and it gives kids the opportunity for a future job.”
Chef Ben Howell teaches culinary arts. In this class, students learn how to handle food safely. In intro to Culinary, the basics of cooking are taught, such as how to use food preparation knives properly, convert measurements, and prep food. In Culinary I and II, the students are responsible for catering food to school events.
“It’s important because you learn work ethic and communication skills,” junior Wendy Espinoza said. “You have to be well balanced to work well in the kitchen, you can’t be crazy because then you’re not going to do well. Chef Howell teaches those things, which allows us to build upon the principles with future careers.”
Shane Robertson and Pete Galanti teach automotive technology, or auto tech. This class teaches students their way around a vehicle, including basic engine repairs and functions, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and electrical components.
“It gives a more enhanced learning about the fundamentals to diagnose and repair vehicles,” junior Kevin Nieto said. “So when the knowledge is needed to fix my own car, I’ll know what to do.”
The CTE program has continued to grow, with the school working towards adding new classes to prepare students for their careers.
“Although there are no new classes as of now, the future goal for the CTE program is to add 5 new programs in August 2027: plumbing, marine technology, HVAC, electrical, and CAD (computer-aided design),” Bundrick said.
