Plugging students into their passion with CTE

A narrow focus on college preparation as the path to economic success has left many of our students behind, but thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure policies are remaking the economy and transforming jobs of the future. AFT is committed to engaging students in programs that provide hands-on experience and good-paying jobs—whether or not they go to college.

AFT delegates met this morning over breakfast to learn from a panel of union leaders and guests about the opportunities and challenges involved in developing exciting career pathways for students. Panelists shared that successful programs keep current with industry trends, allow students to follow their passions, develop a network of strong community partnerships and attract and retain expert teachers.

Leo Gordon, vice president for career and technical education for the United Federation of Teachers, said that student input and interest are critical to the CTE programs UFT offers, and teachers are the cornerstone. Describing innovative aviation and STEAM schools and the new Micron partnership in New York, he emphasized these programs are possible because of the passion, partnerships and commitment of expert teachers. To recruit and retain great teachers, Gordon shared the UFT’s exciting grow-your-own program to train high school students for teaching careers and a mentorship program that pairs younger teachers with those who enter teaching from experienced industry careers.

Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, highlighted the need for deep community partnerships to build and sustain career pathways programs. In New Lexington, a 62-member business advisory council engages community in developing programs that prepare students to meet industry needs. Additionally, an AFT grant paved the way for New Lexington to win $16 million in state funds to build out a health facility/community school that will also offer career training for students. Cropper said the union is considering how to make the results of New Lexington scalable to ensure funding and program opportunities are more accessible across the state.

For Tom Kriger, director of education and research at North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the challenge in connecting more students to apprenticeships that lead to high-paying jobs is that students often don’t know they exist. After describing NABTU’s registered apprenticeship program and curriculum and top-down commitment to diversifying the building trades, he urged delegates to tell their schools and students. “We need you to talk to your students about us,” he said.

These and more CTE leaders and programs were featured in the spring 2024 issue of American Educator. To learn more, see aft.org/ae/spring2024.

[Lesley Gonzalez/photo by Suzannah Hoover]