Student Miyah Washington uses hand cutouts to display information about hand washing during teacher Amy Smith’s Early Childhood Education II class.

THOMASVILLE —February was Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education, or CTAE, month. Thomas County Central High School celebrated the month in its CTAE classes.

CTAE programs offer students a unique opportunity to explore career pathways while they are still in high school. With the added help, students are able to more accurately pick and study on a pathway they are excited to explore.

Program pathways include early childhood education, healthcare science, agriculture, welding, business, information technology, automotive technology, and audio video technology and film.

Students are allowed to take more than one pathway at once, allowing them to test out a course and desired career before spending big bucks on it in college.

“CTAE provides students with countless opportunities to develop employability skills and to explore the different possible career paths available,” Animal Science teacher Robbie Harrison said.

Students are able to participate in real-life situations that allow them to show what they’ve learned in their classes, such as interning at the elementary schools or even becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant over the course of their high school career.

“Students in my pathway have the opportunity to graduate as Certified Nursing Assistants, providing them with a job skill that is needed in our state and a way to earn money and knowledge while going to college,” health care teacher Cindy Griner explained.

Along with skills in their selected subjects, students are offered many opportunities to gain work experiences and employability skills that will allow them to enter the workforce with an advantage.

“I think it affords students the opportunity to find their niche before leaving for college,” Griner said. “It is a unique setting, CTAE in high schools, in that students have the opportunity to experience a bit of real life in a setting where they are more than just a student ID number. CTAE at TCCHS provides students with guidance while still being in a nurtured setting that offers support from teachers.”

ECE student Taylor Chancey said her CTAE classes have “tremendously” impacted her career choice.

“I feel like it is very important to have these types of classes, because if we didn’t have the chance to experience them, then we would go into college, pay thousands of dollars, and then decide we don’t enjoy that career,” she said.

Students like Samantha Castillo enjoy the hands-on activities and other learning opportunities offered in CTAE classes.

“It helps with the transition from being a high schooler to an adult with a job,” she said.

Several activities took place during the month including CTAE facts displayed on the television scroll in the cafeteria and thank you candy bars delivered to all the teachers. Classes also conducted different activities during the month including studying the teacher code of ethics in the early childhood classes.

The celebration concluded with FFA Week activities in the school’s agriculture department.

“While we work to highlight the benefits of CTAE courses all year long, it is important to stop during the month of February to remind our students and teachers how much we appreciate their hard work,” CTAE director and assistant principal Beth Adams said. “It is a great time to celebrate the accomplishments of our student organizations and remind people how important the CTAE program at TCCHS is in preparing our students for their future careers.”