Career Technical Education (CTE)

Teacher:  Lynnette Stephens (lynnette.stephens@swcsd.us), Alex Sparks

There are three CTE courses at the middle school level:

Seventh graders take Exploring Careers. This course is designed to help students begin to think about how understanding what they like to do, and what they are good at, can lead them to satisfying careers. Throughout the nine weeks, we will explore career areas within sixteen main career clusters, as defined by the US Labor and Statistics Department. This course leads into the Career and College Readiness course students will take as freshmen.

Money 101 is offered to eighth graders. This course introduces students to basic financial habits such as setting financial goals, budgeting, and creating financial plans. Students will learn about topics such as taxation, financial institutions, credit, and money management.

An option offered to 7th and 8th grade is Design and Modeling. This is an introductory course designed to give students experience with engineering at the design and prototype level. Students work in groups to design and build prototypes that fulfill a need, modifying projects throughout the nine weeks. Student learn to use basic geometry and 3D design programs while constructing prototypes. This course will give students an understanding of the basic engineering concepts they will continue to explore in engineering courses at the high schools and SWCA.