With 738 students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) job readiness courses across the fall and spring semesters at Hockinson High School, this year marks the highest CTE enrollment in the school’s history.
February is CTE month, and Hockinson High School is seeking to add to their offerings through the Hockinson School District bond in the Feb. 11 special election. Early results for the special election were not available at press time.
Career and technical education classes offer job readiness skills and opportunities to compete in hands-on trades competitions.
In January, a pair of Hockinson High School students put the school on the map in the Southwest Washington region SkillsUSA competitions.
In the regional SkillsUSA competitions, Hockinson High School senior Renner James earned first place in plumbing and fourth in carpentry. Sophomore Lars Sarkinen earned second place in carpentry and third place in plumbing. Both students will advance to statewide SkillsUSA competitions to compete in multiple events this year, according to a news release from the school district.
“Classes like architecture and woods have been helpful to get industry experience,” James stated in the release.
James earned worksite learning credits by working part-time at a local computer numerical control company and has also landed a competitive 90-hour internship with the Design CoMission program at LSW Architects in Vancouver, the release added.
Hockinson High School currently offers 21 CTE courses including personal finance, engineering, construction, computer science, small business management and woods classes. Many of these courses also fulfill high school math or English requirements and offer dual-credit opportunities through Clark College, the district stated.
“Trade jobs are always evolving with new tools and techniques. A committee of local trade industry leaders help to make sure that the skills we teach here are relevant when students enter the workforce,” said Hockinson High School Principal and CTE Director Tim Fox.
The Hockinson School District CTE Advisory Committee is composed of nearly 50 local trade industry leaders who provide input to keep job readiness classes relevant, up to date and impactful for students who may seek a job in the local trades industries.
If the bond is approved by voters, it would fund a new career and technical education building at Hockinson High School and a second elementary school to alleviate overcrowding, along with other school safety and facility improvements, the release stated.
“A new CTE building would give us the ability to offer relevant job readiness experiences to more students,” Fox said.
The proposed high school CTE building would expand space for hands-on job readiness classes. If the bond is approved by voters, the CTE building project would be supported by about $500,000 of in-kind donations from Douglas Green, an industry leader and philanthropist.
