Jennifer Jimenez

Independent Newsmedia

Dysart Unified School District is preparing students for the future through their career and technical education programs, where students can graduate with the skills necessary for successful entry into post-secondary, career and life opportunities.

Jim Grieshaber, career and technical education administrator for DUSD, said current technical education is very different from the old vocational education from many years ago. The skills and training students receive today will help them when they graduate to become career or college ready, he said.

“Our programs give students credentials or certifications they can use in the workforce right out of high school,” Mr. Grieshaber explained. “We have a former student who is currently at the University of Arizona now working on her degree and using the skills she acquired through our CTE program working inside a medical clinic.”

The district offers signature programs at each of its high schools, including: engineering and architecture at Shadow Ridge High School; photography and automotive at Dysart High School; film and television at Willow Canyon; and law, public safety and fire at Valley Vista High School. Other programs include computer animation, culinary arts, digital communications, education professions, information technology, sales and marketing, as well as internships.

Interest in the programs starts for most students in the 7th grade. Mr. Grieshaber said some hear about a CTE pathway and then they hop right in as freshmen, while others give several different courses a chance before their find their program.

Mr. Grieshaber said a big difference between general classes and those available through CTE is there are student organizations tied to each CTE program. One example he provided was Skills USA, which is connected to the engineering and architecture program.

“Students not only take the class throughout the day, but the organization is also cocurricular,” he said. “While they are learning engineering, they are also learning soft skills like leadership and the interview process and even have afterschool meetings.”

Sophomores Jacob Boita, right, and Brett Hackett test out Boita’s Vex Brain Bot robot during a Feb. 15 robotics class as part of the Career Technical Education program at Shadow Ridge High School, 10909 N. Perryville Road. [Jacob Stanek/Independent Newsmedia][/caption]The students also prepare for state and national competitions, where students use what they have learned and apply it to the competition. Students also participate in community service hours.

Teachers in the CTE program have been identified by the state as qualified based on the number of industry hours and they are able to obtain a provisional teaching certification. Then the district works to give them classes to earn the hours and complete their state certification.

“More times than not, people are not going to school to become a culinary teacher, so just recently we hired a culinary teacher who came from the Biltmore,” Mr. Grieshaber said.

Dysart also reaches out to its partners to create real-world opportunities for students.

Mr. Grieshaber said they are giving students the opportunity to see what it would be like to work in the field they are studying for and are partnering with the city of Surprise for a festival in April to create marketing strategies.

“The community investment is paying dividends and we do appreciate the community support,” said district spokesman Zachery Fountain. “This is really life changing for the students in the program, giving them a purpose and focus so when they graduate they will know what they want to do.”

There are several opportunities to make community connections and Mr. Fountain said it is a nice way for Dysart students to get out in the community and connect while taking part in the program.

Learn more about the district’s CTE program at www.dysart.org/cte.