Image Credit: David Seal & Jefferson County Schools
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –
Jefferson County Schools CTE Department excels with course offerings, a state-of-the-art facility, and serves as a model for other school systems.
Too often the public is not aware of the opportunities that are available to students in their own community and base their understanding of CTE education on outdated images and terminology of so-called “shop classes” industrial arts programs, and vocational training.
Those outdated labels are in the dustbin of history and have been replaced by focused and specialized job training.
The world of career training at the secondary level is now light years ahead of what it was just a decade ago, especially in Jefferson County and across Tennessee. Much of this is due to the influx of money from the state government and the dedication of teachers. CTE educators, employers, and students appreciate the priority on funding for career programs.
Jefferson County Schools feature CTE courses beginning in middle school grades. These courses serve as career guidance, provide hands-on training, include academic-CTE integration of subject matter, and vertically align with instruction in advanced high school courses.
Those programs of study are as follows.
- CTE Middle Grades vertically align with JCHS programs.
- Mechanical Pathways explore Welding, Industrial Maintenance, Ag Engineering, Automotive, MEPS and Structural Systems
- Biotic Pathways explore TAPS, Vet Sciences, Horticulture, Health Sciences and Human Services, Crim Justice, and BioSTEM
- Digital Pathways explore digital arts and design, Networking, and Cybersecurity (JCVA.)
- Through School Based Enterprises, all MS classes cover cross cutting pathways including Business, Finance, Marketing JROTC, and Entrepreneurship.
Once a Jefferson County student reaches the high school level, they have access to specialized areas of career training, including Cyber Technology and Information Systems. SkillsUSA is the national student youth organization of CTE students.
Additional Courses Include:
Health Care and Human Services
Emergency Healthcare Services, Nursing, Sports and Human Performance, Medical Therapeutics, Cosmetology, Human Social Sciences and BioSTEM
JROTC
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp, 4 levels and leadership (ARMY), Government and Civics
Digital Technology
Networking Systems and Coding
Management and Entrepreneurship
Accounting, Marketing, and Business Management
Agriculture
Ag Engineering, Industrial and Mechanical, Agribusiness, Horticulture, and Veternary and Animal Science
Hospitality and Culinary Arts
Digital Arts and Design
Construction
Structural Systems, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, and HVAC
Transportation
Automotive Maintenance and Repair
Digital Technology and Networking Systems
Criminal Justice and Correctional Services
Criminal Justice and Forensic Criminal Investigation
The graphic below shows the industrial certifications and specialized courses available to Jefferson County students.
A 2014 Jefferson County High School graduate is now serving as a welding instructor at the Morristown campus of Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT).
“The Jefferson County High School CTE program gave me the skills and confidence to succeed in the welding industry. The hands-on training and instruction directly shaped my career path.” – said Brittany Eslinger, Welding Instructor, Tennessee College of Applied Technology
Just like middle school CTE courses prepare students for advanced high school courses, secondary courses prepare students for advanced training in post-secondary schools like TCAT. A great example would be the Aviation Maintenance Technology program at TCAT at the Morristown campus.
Expansion of the Aviation Maintenance Technology program in Morristown may be on the horizon. Building a new training facility at the Morristown Airport would provide students in neighboring counties with excellent career options.
The state representative that represents Hamblen County, where the airport and TCAT are located, is a strong proponent of CTE education.
“We are very proud of our Morristown TCAT and the many programs that are offered there. We continue to be hopeful for the funding of the new Aviation Technology Building project and important role the program plays in helping prepare students for quality employment.” – said Representative Rick Eldridge (R-Morristown)
Statistically, students that complete CTE courses in high school are more likely to succeed in college and other post-secondary training.
One of three agriculture teachers at Jefferson County High School summarized the value of CTE education in a statement made for this report.
“The success of CTE is driven by dedicated professionals who are driven to teach subjects they are passionate about. The variety of programming available in our CTE Department meets the needs of a diverse student body, and students are eager to obtain knowledge and skills which are practical in solidifying their career. We have a large group of students that are interested in animal and veterinary science but have no real-world experience with large animals. In combination with the existing small animal grooming lab, the new agricultural facility will allow us to provide hands-on opportunities with horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. This will result in students that are more prepared for further education in animal and veterinary sciences.” – said Adam Martin, Instructor, Jefferson County High School, Agriculture Education/FFA
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
