Career & Technical Education (CTE)

February is Career & Technical Education Month (CTE). CTE students earn real-world skills while building a foundation for lifelong learning! In 2021-2022, there were 106,077 students enrolled in 2,103 secondary Career and Technical Education programs throughout Michigan.

We have some fun school activities and social media posts to be released in February for CTE Month:

• Scholarship Fundraiser at Wagon Wheel
• "Ionia County Career Center Is..." social media posts
• Planning for our Open House that is March 2, 2023
• Success Story Saturday posts on social media
• Change Wars for our Scholarship Fund (a competition between classes)
• FFA Week for Plant & Animal Science
• Fine Dining Night for Culinary Arts

Brandon Richmond attended the Electrical Careers/Computer Repair program. He is now the Director of Technology for Belding Area Schools.

Q: How did the Career Center help you get where you are today?

A: "It gave me the introduction to IT and college credits toward my degrees and certification at Baker College, as well as gain the skills that lead to my entry job in the field."

Q: What advice do you have for current Career Center students?

A: "Explore what you can do with your education at the Career Center. If it gets you a jump start on your education make sure you are getting as many credits transferred to the school you are going to. If you are going straight into the workforce use your time and experience in the Career Center to have a head start getting into the field."

Mr. Luke Smalley is our Machine Tool instructor. He has been with the Ionia County Career Center for 5 years. Luke is married to Emily and they have two children, Karsyn and Grayson. Luke enjoys hunting, coaching wrestling, and spending time with his family and friends.

• Best Advice: Two things you can control in your day are your attitude and effort.
• Is a Journeyman Die Builder
• Travel Bucket List: Wants to travel through Europe, specifically England

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month! CTE programs provide your students with hands-on training that can be applied to real-world, in-demand college, training and career pathways. Students will also:

• Acquire specific skills to pursue their career passion while also building a foundation for lifelong learning.
• Start their path toward a career while earning valuable experience, college credits and more.
• Be prepared for college success

Help your student get a jump start on their postsecondary education. Head to MiSchoolData.org, the State of Michigan’s official source for pre-K, K-12, postsecondary and workforce data, and make an informed decision about your student’s success. Or check out the CTE student webpage for more information on Career and Technical Education, Early Middle College, CTE Month, Michigan Career Exploration and more!

Excessive pride is corrosive to life.

The Ionia County Career Center provides students with the opportunity to expand their horizons through enrollment in career and technical education. The center operates nine state-approved programs. Classes are a combination of traditional academics and hands-on, project-based learning. Students are given the knowledge and experience they need to secure their next step towards success e.g. first-time job, college, or apprenticeship.

Email: careercenteroffice@ioniaisd.org
Website: www.ioniaisd.org/cte
Location: 250 East Tuttle Road, Ionia, MI, USA
Phone: 616-527-6540
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IoniaCountyCareerCenter