CTE DAY-Several Clay County High School students, teachers, and other volunteers shared their knowledge on career and technical programs of study with the county’s junior high students recently in order to help them choose their own path as they enter high school. (photo courtesy CCHS Media)

Submitted By BRAIDEN WHITE

On any day at Clay County High School, you will find students in Career and Technical classes developing their leadership skills, manufacturing abilities, consumer savviness, and information technology skills, but on Wednesday, February 27th, students shared information about their career and technical program of study with local elementary and junior high students.

Twenty-five students representing Agriculture, Business Technology, Family and Consumer Science, and Health Science Technology traveled to Celina K-8, Hermitage Springs School, and Maple Grove Elementary to talk to seventh and eighth grade students about their prospective classes.

“I really enjoyed hearing our students speak from their hearts about their chosen CTE program of studies,” CCHS principal Melissa White said.  “The more they spoke, the more comfortable and expert they became.

“It was a totally fulfilling experience for me as a principal.”

The effort was known as CTE Day and it was celebrated in conjunction with National Career and Technical Education Month.

“I learned a lot about the programs of study and, after listening to CCHS students, I have chosen the one I want to take,” Hermitage Springs Student John Monroe said.  “The day was a big help to me.”

Beginning with the Class of 2012, all Tennessee students must complete a state approved Program of Study in order to meet graduation requirements.

Students highlighted the Career and Technical programs of studies available at Clay County High School including:
• Agriculture–Focus on Agricultural Education Systems and/or Focus on Power, Structures, and Technical Systems;
• Business Technology–Multimedia Management;
• Family and Consumer Science–Family and Community; and
• Health Science–Therapeutic Nursing Services.

“Clay County High School is truly a CTE school with over 90% of students involved in CTE classes,” director of schools Jerry Strong  said.

With so many involved in the classes, students were abundantly available to pass along their experiences on CTE Day.

They included Bonnie Jo Craighead, Alyssa Kendall, Nikki Hickman, Jon Wayne Browning, Kristen Clements, Sydney Smith, Kristy Hatcher, Jaylan Hancock, and Tanna Browning representing agriculture; Braiden White, Tyler Gass, Riley Edwards, Jesse Copeland, and Bethany Sherrell representing business technology; Chelsea Copass, Tori Rios, Annie Mullins, Logan Pennington, and Alexis Page representing family and consumer science; and Makala McLerran, Payton Dodson, Kristen Mathews, Lacey Watson, Alex Grace, Raven Rhoton, Lakeshia Davis, Alexx Bilbrey, and Kristen Richards representing health science.

“I am so proud of our CTE students and teachers from Clay County High School!  They did an excellent job showcasing the many opportunities available in our four Career Technical Education programs,” CTE director Jayne Donaldson said.  “It is my feeling that the students in all of our county schools greatly benefited.”

For more information about Career and Technical Programs available to Clay County students, please contact Mrs. Donaldson at 243-5512 or the following program contacts at 243-2340:  Mr. Jason Coons or Mrs. Beth Hatcher, Agriculture; Mrs. Amy Dodson, Business Technology; Mrs. Kim Upton, Family and Consumer Science; or Mrs. Rhonda McCoin, Health Science Technology.