Welcome and Introduction
Career and Technical Education Career Pathways Handbook
Welcome Giles County Students and Parents,
It is a privilege to work alongside our dedicated and highly skilled team of 20 Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers, 4 Career Exploration teachers, and 2 Career Coaches in Giles County as we strive to ensure every student is prepared for college and career success. Career and Technical Education plays a vital role in equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the demands of our local workforce, while also fostering leadership abilities and strong citizenship through participation in Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). These organizations offer students valuable opportunities to compete at the local, state, and national levels. More information about CTSOs can be found using the links to the left.
Giles County CTE is also proud to provide multiple opportunities for students to earn postsecondary credit. Many programs of study offer Dual Enrollment and/or Industry Certification options, allowing students to earn college or industry credentials while still in high school. These industry certifications are aligned with current workforce needs, enhancing students’ employability and increasing their potential to earn higher starting wages.
We hope you and your student will choose Giles County CTE as your student’s elective focus, where hands-on, real-world learning experiences guide them along their pathway to becoming college and career ready.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at cwoods@gcboe.us
Sincerely,
Dr. Courtney Woods
Foreword
The information contained in this publication is intended as a guide in the selection of high school courses. Students should discuss this information with parents, teachers, school counselors and/or administrators. If there are any questions or concerns regarding the registration process, students and parents are encouraged to contact the student’s school counselor or school administrator.
Public Notice
Giles County Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following supervisors have been designated to handle questions regarding the non-discrimination policies: Tommy Hunter (Section 504), District Support Supervisor, Mitzi Jones (IEP/SPED), Special Education Supervisor, and Dr. Courtney Woods (Title IX), Supervisor of Curriculum (6-12). For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the U.S. Department of Education website for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area or call 1-800-421-3481.
CTE Programs of Study
Each Career Cluster is divided into a Program of Study that includes four levels of courses that build on each other as the student progresses throughout high school. Each level of courses provides a rigorous, industry-aligned deep dive into the specifics of that career. For example, Career Cluster Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources can be broken down into the Veterinary and Animal Science programs of study. If a student chooses this Program of study, they will take the following classes:
- Level 1: Agriscience/ Honors Agriscience
- Level 2: Small Animal Science
- Level 3: Large Animal Science
- Level 4: Veterinary Science and/or Veterinary Clinical Internship
A student must earn two or more credits within a Program of Study to be considered a CTE Concentrator. A third course within the same Career Cluster meets the graduation requirement for an elective focus.
Early Post-Secondary Opportunities (EPSOs)
Early Post-Secondary Opportunities include industry certification tests, Dual Enrollment/Credit courses, or challenge exams that give students the opportunity to earn credit in both postsecondary and career fields. Industry certification test such as OSHA-10 are aligned to courses to help promote student readiness to enter the workforce or attend a postsecondary institution. Dual Enrollment/Credit courses allow students to earn postsecondary credit at community colleges, technical colleges, or universities through class enrollment or challenge exams given at the conclusion of the course. EPSOs allow students to become familiar with postsecondary rigor, save time and money in progression to obtain postsecondary credentials, and make decisions regarding their career choice. CTE offers many EPSOs to ensure all students have the opportunity to be equipped to be college and career ready. Each Program of Study will have EPSOs list to the right of each course.
