CTE Overview

Career & Technical Education (CTE) Philosophy Statements

Business Education Philosophy

Business courses are vital in enhancing every student’s ability to make more informed decisions in their multiple roles as citizens, consumers, wage earners, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. In order to embrace the challenge of continual societal, international, and technological changes, individuals need a background in business plus the ability to use the information to make sound judgments.

To develop the critical thinking skills needed to function in these multiple roles, students will:

• Demonstrate interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills needed to take initiative and function in diverse social and business settings
• Communicate effectively as writers, listeners, and speakers
• Develop both personal and professional ethical standards
• Develop information technology skills for creating and managing information and making decisions
• Use relevant computer technology wisely, ethically, and efficiently
• Design and develop products/presentations that reflect integrity confidence, objectivity, and craftsmanship
• Develop academic and workplace competencies for college and career preparation

An effective business education will provide an authentic student-centered learning environment that incorporates stakeholders’ expertise—business partners, parents, community members, and university faculty.  By participating in this rigorous business curriculum which is aligned with state and national standards, students will:

• Acquire a core body of knowledge in business and computer technology
• Gain an awareness of career clusters
• Integrate business concepts and skills with other academic knowledge and apply to all aspects of their lives
• Identify and use the resources necessary to adapt to the changing needs of the workplace technology, and society

Technical Education Philosophy

Industrial Technology courses bridge the gap between understanding technological sciences and real world hands-on experience.  Students learn the ability to apply technology concepts in their multiple roles as citizens, consumers, and professionals.  An investment in technology education prepares the student for college and the workforce, at the same time embracing technological and societal change while making a meaningful contribution to society.  Technical education encourages a high-performance economy characterized by high-skill, high-wage employment.

To develop technological skills needed in this rapidly changing world, the students will:

• Know how to use, manage, and assess technology.
• Demonstrate qualities associated with technology like creativity, ingenuity, invention, and problem solving.
• Develop information technology skills for finding, creating, and managing information.
• Use relevant computer technology wisely, ethically, and efficiently.
• Design and develop quality products/presentations that reflect integrity, confidence, objectivity and craftsmanship.
• Develop academic and workplace competencies for college and career preparation.
• Demonstrate workplace, teamwork, communication and leadership skills needed to function in diverse social and business settings.
• Develop both personal and professional ethical standards.

An effective technology education will provide interactive student-centered learning in a modern state-of-the-art environment with the support of experienced educators, community business partners, parents and local universities. The CTE curriculum is aligned with state, national, and industry standards. By participating in this leading edge CTE curriculum, students will:

• Acquire hands-on skills in real world settings.
• Gain an awareness of career clusters.
• Integrate technology concepts and skills with other academic knowledge and apply to all aspects of their lives.
• Identify and use the resources necessary to adapt to the changing needs of the workplace, technology and society.

Family & Consumer Sciences Education Philosophy

Family and Consumer Sciences Education empowers individuals and families across the life span to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse global society. Family and consumer science courses are essential in enhancing every student’s ability to make informed decisions in their multiple roles as family members, citizens, consumers, proficient employees or professionals, and entrepreneurs. In order to embrace the challenge of societal and technological changes, individuals need a background in consumer education, health, foods and nutrition, and human development. A family and consumer science education will provide an authentic student-centered learning environment that incorporates problem solving, critical thinking and decision making skills to achieve life goals.