Quitman ISD Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs have opened pathways for students to be prepared for college and earn relevant certifications.

The district offers career and technology classes and certifications in Health Science, AFNR (Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources), Construction Science, Food & Consumer Science, Business & Industry and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math).

QISD belongs to the Piney East Perkins Consortium, which is group of 20 school districts in the East Texas area. This group includes nearby schools, such as Alba-Golden, Hawkins, Harmony and New Diana.

The consortium works with the various school districts to increase CTE opportunities and be a resource to each of the campuses, QISD CTE coordinator Sherrie Callahan said.

“We hope that the exposure to our CTE programs will give students a taste of areas they never knew existed and that the opportunities and certifications we offer will provide them with a seamless transition into either post-secondary education or the job market,” Callahan said.

In addition to working with the consortium, QISD also has a CTE advisory committee made up of CTE teachers, community members, and local business and industry representatives. The committee provides chances for socialization amongst educators and professionals in the career field.

“On our end, it is a chance to provide awareness of our CTE programs as well as creating network opportunities. The business leaders, in turn, provide us with advice as to new technology developments in the workplace, which certifications are recognized locally, and increased alignment to workplace expectations,” Callahan said. “Through this partnership, we are better able to review and evaluate our facilities and equipment and identify program needs.”

In the past, educators often told students that going to a college or university was the only path to take.

“For far too long, we, in education, have pushed students to pursue post-secondary education in the form of colleges and universities. While this is not bad, it’s definitely not for everyone, nor should it be,” Callahan said. “We shouldn’t make students feel that they are less valuable if they pursue a technical education or enter the workforce after high school graduation.”

She explained how students find success in attending technical schools.

“A student can attend TSTC (Texas State Technical College) in Marshall, go through their electrical line worker program, graduate with an associate degree, and if they don’t have a job within six months of graduating, TSTC will refund their tuition,” she said. “They have yet to provide a refund because they have 100 percent placement rating. That’s more bang for your buck than most four-year degrees offer.”

For those interested in learning more about Quitman’s CTE programs or joining the committee, contact Callahan at callahans@quitmanisd.net.