Elementary students across the district stepped into the halls of Marietta High School for a hands-on introduction to Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) pathways. These class visits allowed younger students to explore firsthand future career paths through interactive classroom demonstrations, activities, and conversations with teachers and students. The purpose of the visits was to introduce students to opportunities beyond, or in addition to, the customary four-year college route while broadening their interests at an early age.
“Parents are not always aware of all the pathways and opportunities we have going on, and we have so many to offer,” Mrs. Cain, CTAE assistant principal, said. “The main purpose is to expose students to all types of careers, not just college but all other avenues too.”
The schools toured CTAE classrooms, including construction, culinary, engineering, architecture, and more career focused pathways. Teachers used hands-on activities and presentations to give elementary students a look into what they would be able to experience when they walk the halls and join the classrooms of the high school.
In the architecture classrooms, students practice different techniques on drafting designs of future infrastructures. Introducing these concepts early can help students develop awareness and creativity Mrs. Groves, the architecture teacher at the high school, explained.
“Aspects of architecture are important at a young age,” Groves said. “Being observant of the world around them, how they feel inside of different kinds of spaces, and learning about scale are all important to the field and will help them should they pursue architecture later.”
Other teachers emphasized the importance of ensuring students understand success looks different for everyone. Ms. Bird, health science teacher and athletic trainer explained that students are often encouraged to view college as the only step that leads to success after high school, saying it is the gold standard, even though there are many other rewarding paths that are equally as important.
Ms. Bird added that CTAE pathways can help students discover strengths that may not always appear in a traditional classroom.
“Some students may perform better in a skills-trade profession and program compared to those in a classroom-based setting,” Ms. Bird said. “Allowing students to explore that through a CTAE program in middle school and high school is a monumental step in the right direction.”
Construction teacher Mr. Barcarse said many elementary students were amazed by the size and activity inside the construction shop. During some visits, students observed an online simulator to give insight into what the actual workspace consists of.
“The most immediate reaction visiting students have is the enormity of the Construction shop space,” Mr. Barcarse said. “I remember a student from Westside Elementary saying, ‘This is what I want to do,’ as he left the shop.”
When the elementary students were finished with their tour, they shared their interests in the career pathways. A Park Street Elementary student, Marcus, said he wanted to be a detective or police officer to help people, and another student, Nora, shared her interest in culinary arts and film.
Marietta High School’s CTAE programs have led students into the military, trade school, and allowed some to enter straight into the nursing world, as they all begin their career paths. The success of many students moving directly into their careers and excelling, shows how important CTAE programs are and emphasizes the strong opportunities Marietta High School offers for future success.
