From left, Michael May, AHS engineering II instructor, Conlon Farmer, Reggie Battles, Robert Autrey and Benton Key hold a payload attached to a weather balloon and parachute destined for the stratosphere.

Athens High School is joining other high schools across the nation this month to celebrate national Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.

This year’s motto is “Celebrate Today, Own Tomorrow!” This is a time to celebrate the ways CTE makes students college- and career-ready and prepares them for high-wage, high-demand careers.

“This time allows us to spotlight the rigor and relevance CTE courses offer our students,” said Gia Russell, director of the Athens City Schools’ CTE program. “CTE programs are investing in students and providing them with the latest technology and skills that prepare them to become successful employees and future leaders.”

Here are some numbers worth consideration.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, many of the fastest-growing jobs through 2022 will be in CTE fields, including health care, skilled trades, STEM, architecture, IT and marketing. Many of the highest-paid jobs are in fields for which CTE prepares students.

Middle-skill jobs require education and training beyond high school but less than a bachelor degree. They are a significant part of the economy and are expected to grow. According to research from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, by 2020 the U.S. will need at least 4.7 million new workers with postsecondary certificates. Of the 55 million job openings projected through 2020, 30 percent will require some college or a two-year associate degree.

These are serious numbers.

A person with a CTE-related associate degree or credential will earn on average between $4,000 and $19,000 more a year than a person with a humanities associate degree, according to Jacobson and Mokher of the Hudson Institute.

The opportunity to prepare and equip our students is incredible. We are meeting a real need for these young people. CTE is truly preparing them for successful futures.

CTE’s mission is to empower students to be successful citizens, workers and leaders in a global economy. The vision for CTE is to prepare students to be employable upon graduation and armed with business and industry credentials, certifications and knowledge that will lead them into the next phase of their lives.

Real-world experience is at the heart of CTE. Putting theory into practice requires the integration of traditional academics and CTE.

“Curriculum integration is a key element of AHS career academies, which combine academics and CTE around a theme.” Russell said. “In the academies, students apply their knowledge to real-world situations. The marriage between academics and the hands-on experience gained through CTE creates a dynamic and invaluable benefit for our students.”

The CTE Academy Programs were created to enhance student experiences and introduce students to broad career opportunities in industry. There are eight academies: Medical, Engineering, Business, Marketing, Education, Government and Public Administration, Human Services and Computer Science.

The Cooperative Education Program allows selected CTE students to participate as apprentices or interns with local businesses and industries.

CTE is a major part of the solution to myriad national economic and workforce problems, such as high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and massive layoffs. AHS is ensuring students have the skills to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the future economy.

Russell is not only the director for CTE, she is a champion for the cause.

“The overall vision for ACS is student success,” she said. “We always do what’s best for our kids. At the heart of it all is meeting our students where they are and equipping them with the tools needed for success.”

Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Athens students are creating their futures today because of CTE. This month, we celebrate today with you. We can’t wait to see you own tomorrow.

— Hickman is over communications and strategic planning for Athens City Schools. She can be reached at Ginger.Hickman@acs-k12.org.