City of Quitman Proclaims CTAE Month

Mayor McDaniel and student members of CTAE clubs at the signing of the CTAE Month Proclamation City of Quitman Proclaims CTAE Month from Brooks County High School Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) is a student-centered program that fosters career inspiration in PreK, career awareness in elementary school, career visualization in middle school, and career preparation in high school as vital components of one’s educational career. Brooks County School’s CTAE program provides interdisciplinary and technical skills to every student focused on attaining the knowledge and abilities that businesses and industries desire for high-demand, high-skilled, high-wage occupations. CTAE programs integrate soft skills and hands on learning with connections to academic and STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) curriculum.

Students are encouraged to pursue pathway completion: taking a sequence of courses in the same industry cluster. Upon completion of a pathway students are eligible to take an assessment leading to an industry recognized credential or certification (e.g., Certified Nursing Assistant, Microsoft Office Specialist, OSHA Certification). In addition, their participation in co-curricular student organizations (CTSO), and work-based learning enables them to leave high school with tangible marketable skills and documentation of their capabilities, as well as greater understanding of the college and career paths related to their chosen field. Students who graduate from high school after successfully completing a CTAE “Career Pathway” are equipped for immediate employment, post-secondary education, and life-long learning. In essence, students in CTAE are “college, career and workforce ready” - prepared to compete in the global marketplace. They are “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Workforce”.

The Association for Career and Technical Education designates February as CTAE month. On February 8, 2022, Quitman Mayor, Zinda McDaniel signed a proclamation designating CTAE Month in Quitman. Students from various CTSO (student CTAE clubs) were on hand for the event as well as Brooks County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Vickie Reed and Brooks County Schools CTAE Director who is the current president of the national level Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). Mayor McDaniel is also a CTAE Teacher for Healthcare Science at Brooks County High School. Students in attendance were Reagan Chastain (Skills USA – Construction), Preston Welch (FFA), Ruby Ceja (FFA), Matthew Ferrell (FFA), Tymari Mobley (Skills USA – Healthcare), Jenny Vazquez (Skills USA- Healthcare), Tristan Wall (DECA), Emily Roberts (Skills USA-Healthcare), Johnathan Rhodes (Skills USA-Construction). After the signing of the proclamation, students took at tour of the new Lee & Pickels Drug Store. Students noted that each of their areas of CTAE is important in the building and operations of businesses such as drug stores. CTAE is an important part of the labor market and essential for everyday living.

Brooks County Schools offers Elementary Agriculture Education at all schools (QES, NBES, BCMS, BCHS, DIS). Additionally, BCMS offers Business & Technology and Engineering & Technology. Delta Innovative School offers middle school Business & Technology and Finance. Brooks County high school offers pathways in Agriculture Mechanics Systems, Forest Mechanical Systems, Forestry/Wildlife Systems, Plant and Landscape Systems/Horticulture, Animal Science, Audio Visual Technology and Film, Computer Science, Construction/Carpentry, Health Science, Marketing Management, Web & Digital Design, and Dual Enrollment programs through Wiregrass Technical College in Certified Nursing Assistant, Cosmetology/Barbering and Culinary Arts. Work Based Learning (WBL) opportunities are available at BCHS and DIS for students who have pathways in CTAE.