Learn more about the exciting opportunities for students in Career & Technical Education.

 

Career Clusters - Apprenticeships - Student Organizations - Certifications  

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Research shows a growing need to think outside of the traditional four-year degree.  

Jobs for the Future (JFF) and American Student Assistance (ASA)’s white paper, “Degrees of Risk: What Gen Z and Employers Think About Education-to-Career Pathways…and  How Those Views are Changing”, illustrates the shifting perceptions of alternative credentials

• When trying to determine their next steps after graduation, Generation Z youth are becoming increasingly wary of the cost and time to complete a traditional four-year degree. Almost 86 percent of learners today receive financial aid; the average student loan balance accumulated over four years ranges from $25,880 to $107,520. Knowing this, they are open to the idea of non-degree pathways and credentials to help build job readiness skills in order to accelerate their timelines for entering the workforce. 
• Employers who are willing to look outside of the traditional four-year degree are looking for a certain threshold of experience (typically measured in years) to satisfy skill requirements. This could suggest that potential candidates who have completed an apprenticeship or work-based learning have an advantage over traditional college applicants who may not yet have accumulated work experience.

For employees, alternative credentials may have a return on investment that is competitive with the traditional degree track.

The Midwest Economic Policy Institute co-authored “Apprenticeship as a Career Development Alternative” with the University of Illinois’ Labor and Employment Relations division to examine registered apprenticeship programs in the state of Wisconsin. The report analyzes enrollment, hours worked, and wages earned by learners, to demonstrate the market value of alternative credentials when learners are considering their postsecondary options. 

• Wages earned by workers who have achieved journey-level experience start at $67,200 annual salary, on par with annual earnings for workers with bachelor’s degrees.
• The average construction worker who completes an apprenticeship program in Wisconsin earns 33 percent more than the average worker with an associate degree. These wages are only 3 percent less than the average worker with a bachelor’s degree and avoid incurring $27,100 in student debt, the average loan burden for graduating seniors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

 

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NTHS CELEBRATION

   

   

 

 

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I wanted to take a minute to share with you how our students did at the DECA State Competition this past weekend. There were 2,800 students registered to compete from across the state. 

We had a great showing for Southern Lee High School. Our students performed at an incredibly high level and represented Southern Lee wonderfully in all areas! 

17 of our 18 students received a proficiency pin for each of their events. 

We had ten students placed top in the state for their events. These students will be competing at the International level in Atlanta, GA in April.

They are:

Justin Cleary - 2nd Place - Professional Selling

Clark Poston - 4th Place - Professional Selling

Davis Lundy - 4th Place- Financial Consulting 

Carly Hegwer - 5th Place Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling 

Kambell Beasely and Elise Stallings - 7th Place-  Independent Business Plan

Caroline Cummings - 7th Place Financial Consulting

Priyanna Tabon - 8th Place - Integrated Marketing Campaign - Event

Reagan Braren and Graysen Fraley - 8th Place - Integrated Marketing Campaign - Service 

 

If you see any of the students that competed this past weekend please congratulate them for a great showing and representation for our school!

 

 

Davis Lundy - 4th Place- Financial Consulting 

Kambell Beasely and Elise Stallings - 7th Place-  Independent Business Plan                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             Justin Cleary - 2nd Place - Professional Selling          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Unlocking Potential: A State Policy Roadmap for Equity and Quality in College in High School Programs for Students With Disabilities.

College in high school programs help learners prepare for postsecondary education by allowing them to earn credits towards a postsecondary degree in high school. However, learners with disabilities are often excluded from these opportunities. This resource from the College in High School Alliance builds upon its state policy roadmap to illustrate how state leaders can expand access to college in high school programs for learners with disabilities. The report is organized around six key policy area: Equity goal and public reporting; program integrity and credit transfers; finance; course access and availability; instructor capacity; and navigational supports. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 In the Age of Coronavirus, Career-Tech Ed is More Important than Ever

Career Technical Education (CTE) is more important than ever in today’s rapidly changing world. Former CTE students are heroes serving on the front lines during this global pandemic. They are healthcare workers pulling 16-hour shifts and treating our loved ones. They are manufacturing employees working tirelessly to provide life-saving supplies to hospitals, senior care facilities and grocery stores. They are educators delivering the best education possible to their students online. They are scientists racing to find a vaccine. And they are transportation, distribution, and logistics professionals working day and night so that we all have the supplies we need.

At the same time, 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment in only a few weeks, a number we have not seen since the Great Depression and which is guaranteed to rise. In light of the realized and forecasted economic downturn, we must act swiftly to mitigate employment and economic disruptions, particularly for the most vulnerable, while also preparing a talent pipeline for industries that are in high demand and most impacted.

Coronavirus has shined a light on and amplified a whole host of challenges. One of these is the nation’s digital divide, which has been elevated due to the growing reliance on distance learning. States, schools and colleges need additional funding for the digital and physical infrastructure necessary to rapidly transition classroom experiences into quality, online education. For CTE programs, the switch to online learning can be particularly challenging as programs work to incorporate the real-world experiences and hands-on learning typically associated with many CTE classes. There are several worthy solutions, including taking advantage of technologies like augmented and virtual reality, but they come at a steep price. That’s exactly why additional federal investments are so important: we need to make cutting edge learning approaches available to ensure learners can gain and demonstrate technical competencies that are critical for their career success both now and in the future, including in fields that are crucial to beating back the ongoing pandemic. Further, instructors, who have borne the brunt of a swift and completely unanticipated shift to online education need professional development to support their evolving responsibilities.

Looking ahead to the economic aftermath of the Coronavirus, there will be significant demands by learners of all ages for fast but quality upskilling and reskilling programs that result in careers with family-sustaining wages. This requires CTE programs, especially at the postsecondary level, to be nimble and proactive but they must also be proven. During the last recession, college enrollment increased by nearly 2.5 million students or 16 percent. The increase was largely due to nontraditional aged college students, and 50 percent of the new enrollments went to community colleges. A similar trend can be expected with the current predicted economic downturn. Importantly, we must ensure that additional federal resources to community and technical colleges and area CTE centers are at least proportional to this growth so that the most vulnerable learners have the full array of supports needed to regain their educational and economic footing. Additional federal investments targeted at wraparound services will help give learners the greatest chance at success and should address food and housing insecurity, financial aid flexibility, transportation, child care, and job search assistance.

While we do not yet know the long-term impact this pandemic will have on our nation, what we do know is that education, especially CTE, will be at the center of rebuilding our economy and the lives of many Americans. As Congress considers how best to address this ongoing tragedy, innovation and investment in our education and workforce systems will help foster a more equitable and accessible path forward that meets the needs of a rapidly evolving workplace and world.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Twenty-nine LCHS SkillsUSA members along with advisors Tony Martin, Anderson Frye, Chris Garner, Jamie Henry, and myself traveled to FTCC to compete in the 2020 SkillsUSA South Central Regional Conference. Out of the 29 attendees I can proudly say that 26 of them performed well enough to make the stage and receive a medal. Harleigh Austin and Katelyn Scheller both helped lead the event as South Central Regional Officers and did an outstanding job on stage. We are very proud of all of the competitors and they are all champions in our eyes. We are also excited to say that all of these competitors are eligible to compete at states in April. The brick/block laying portions of the masonry contests were held here on campus on Wednesday of this week as well and Mr. Garner worked hard to make this event go off without a hitch. The list of accolades is below. 

 

Urquilla, Timothy	1st Additive Manufacturing
Spitler, Carter	1st Additive Manufacturing
Chandler, Taylor	1st Chapter Display
Clark, Holly	1st Chapter Display
Spartz, Sarah	1st Chapter Display
Nunnery, Morrissa	1st Commercial Baking
Primo, Brian	1st Information Technology Services
Griffin, Malina	1st Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue
Roethlisberger, Charlotte	1st Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue
Velasquez Noyola, Carlos	2nd Automotive I
Noyola-Luviano, Diego	2nd Automotive Service Technology
Alvarez Gama, Josue	2nd Mobile Robotics
De Lira, Brian	2nd Mobile Robotics & 2nd Skills Project Showcase Engineering
Smith, William	2nd Pin Design
Norwood, Caleb	2nd Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue
Wakefield, Ethan	2nd Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue
Lino, De'Angelo	2nd Skills Project Showcase Engineering
Nicolas, Patricia	3rd Masonry 1
Shelton, Josephine	3rd Masonry
Scheller, Katelyn	3rd Prepared Speech
Crowder, Christopher	4th Automotive Service Technology
Tran, Stephanie	4th Masonry I
Hernandez Velasquez, Kennedy	5th Automotive 1
Austin, Harleigh	5th Automotive Tool ID
Pickard, David	5th Masonry
Gross, Kassidy	5th Skills Project Showcase Carpentry

Katherine Myers 1st Masonry Bulletin Board

 

 

 

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Stem Club

 

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LCHS NAF AOHT kickball game participants

 

 

 

 

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The LCHS FFA chapter had a great time during the last three days at the 91st North Carolina State FFA Convention in Raleigh, NC. Leanna Boggs, Lyndy Boggs, Katie Myers and Abby Baker received their North Carolina State FFA Degrees. The State Degree is the highest honor the North Carolina FFA Association can bestow upon a member. Katie Kelly was recognized as a candidate for her American FFA Degree. The American Degree is the highest degree an FFA member can achieve, and signifies outstanding work and commitment to the agricultural industry. LCHS FFA received a membership growth award for increasing student membership and involvement for the school year. We also had two students, Sarah Spartz and Katie Myers, serve as convention delegates. While at convention, LCHS FFA volunteered to help Rise Against Hunger pack 23,000 meals for hungry families around the world. 

 

 

 

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Skills video from graduates

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Big CONGRATULATIONS to Jack Allen for his acceptance into the

N.C. Apprenticeship and Ford ACE program!

Big THANKS to LCHS Automotive Teacher

Tony Martin and Capital Lincoln Mazda of Cary! 

 

 

 

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The LCHS SkillsUSA chapter had a great time during the last three days at the 2019 SkillsUSA North Carolina State Conference and Competition. Greeley Hibbard, Cherokee Hall, and Brandon Pedraza-Ramirez all did an amazing job leading the conference on stage as state and national officers. Twenty-nine of the forty-four LCHS competitors placed high enough to be recognized on the stage and receive a medal, these accolades are listed below. The three 1st place winners will travel to Louisville, KY in June to represent North Carolina at the national level! I am also proud to announce that for the second year in a row LCHS has won two NC State Officer positions with Brian Primo and Diego Noyola-Luviano both being elected to serve. They will attend nationals as well for training as they step into their new state leadership roles. Summer Pipkin, Jairo Daiz, Mico Edralin, and Sebastian Sandi-Siles were also awarded SkillsUSA Outstanding Member Awards and Greeley Hibbard was awarded the SkillsUSA Adam J. Thompson Award for going beyond the call of duty and spreading the SkillsUSA message at the local, state, and national level. The LCHS SkillsUSA Chapter was also named a Silver Chapter of Distinction for the second year in a row! Finally, all of our attendees represented our school and district admirably and are champions in my eyes. The skills that these students showcase at these events are truly impressive and are perfect evidence of all the great things happening at LCHS.  If you see these students please take a moment to congratulate them on their success. Thanks for your support!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The LCHS SkillsUSA Robotics Team traveled to the NC State Fair this weekend to compete in the annual State Fair Mobile Robotics Competition hosted by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, NC Works Apprenticeship Program, NC SkillsUSA and the North Carolina State Fair. I'm proud to announce that our three teams placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the competition this year! All three teams are to receive a generous cash prize from the NC Works Apprenticeship Program. Please congratulate these students on their success!  

 

Jairo Diaz & Christian Starr - 1st place

Greeley Hibbard & Kamryn Bivens - 2nd place

Zachary Loso & Mico Edralin - 3rd Place

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A group of student leaders from the LCHS SkillsUSA chapter along with advisors Tony Martin, Jamie Henry, and myself attended the 2018 SkillsUSA State Leadership Workshop over the past three days. All of our students represented their chapter and school admirably. Greeley Hibbard, Cherokee Hall, and Brandon Ramirez did an amazing job as workshop facilitators acting in their State and National Officer roles. All of our attendees met the requirements to receive the prestigious SkillsUSA State Leadership Award and many placed highly in their individual contests as well. Roles for our five South Central Region regional officers were also determined by the state and are listed below. Please join me in congratulating these students on their achievements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lee County High School senior Brandon Ramirez spoke at the Lee County Schools Convocation. Brandon is an outstanding student with a long list of accomplishments. He has been the SkillsUSANC student president and is the current SkillsUSA national student president. He is an Academy of Engineering and Adobe Academy student that has won the Lenovo App Challenge and attained many certifications. He represents Lee County Schools well and what all educators strive for. Brandon's speech was undeniably motivational to anyone who heard it. Thanks Brandon!

 

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 LCHS SkillsUSA chapter members along with several other LCHS CTE students and instructors joined nearly 300 other community members this weekend volunteering to help with the City of Sanford Block Party. The students gave up the majority of their Saturday to put their "Skills" to work helping the community while engaging in painting, landscaping, and light carpentry work. This is the third year our chapter has actively participated and once again the students in the chapter have done a phenomenal job providing a much-needed facelift to the houses assigned to them. I must say to watch these student work so hard to give back to their community is inspiring. Some photos of the event are below. If you recognize these students please encourage them to keep up the great work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On October 25th, Brandon Ramirez and Greeley Hibbard recieved the SME Rising Stars Award recognizing their achievements in Career and Technical Education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On Sunday October 22nd, three robotics teams from the LCHS SkillsUSA chapter competed in the NC Apprenticeship/SkillsUSA NC State Fair Robotics competition. All of the teams performed admirably in front of several state dignitaries and state fair attendees alike. LCHS took home the top three positions! With the team of Greeley Hibbard and Kamryn Bivens taking first place, Jairo Diaz and Zach Loso taking second, and Brian Primo and Sebastian Sandi-Siles taking third. The students also had a couple hours before the competition to showcase their designs and hopefully inspire some future robotics engineers as you can see in the photos below. As a bonus all of these students will be receiving a monetary award from the NC Department of Commerce.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Agricultural Education Student Teacher was Finalist for NC Student Teacher of the Year

 

Jacqueline Knowles, a May 2017 graduate in Agricultural Education was named one of the six finalists for the North Carolina Student Teacher of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators. Ms. Knowles completed her student teaching at Pinecrest High School. Tiffany Key and Sharon Maines, also Agricultural Education graduates from NC State, were her cooperating teachers at Pinecrest High School. The NC – ACTE selects 6 student teacher finalists from nominees from each of the North Carolina universities that offer teacher education programs.

Ms. Knowles is currently an Agricultural Education teacher at Southern Lee High School.

Pictured above: Jacqueline Knowles from left to right are her two cooperating teachers, Tiffany Key and Sharon Maines, Dr. Travis Park, coordinator of Agricultural Education student teachers, Jacqueline Knowles, and Dr. Gary Moore, her university supervisor during her student teaching experience.

 

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Over the past few days (9/17-19), ten LCHS SkillsUSA students along with advisers Tony Martin, Jamie Henry, and myself attended the 2017 SkillsUSA State Leadership Workshop at Camp Dixie. The students were immersed in intensive leadership experiences from the moment they stepped off the bus and they all performed admirably and grew immensely as leaders in the organization. Brandon Pedraza-Ramirez did an excellent job leading the workshop as the 2017-18 NC SkillsUSA President and is looking likely to be recommended by the NC State Director for a national office run for the upcoming year. I am also proud to announce that LCHS won 5 of 7 regional officer positions for the 2017-18 school year with Greeley Hibbard, Cherokee Hall, Kamryn Bivens, Christian Starr, and Sebastian Sandi-Siles all serving as officers for the South Central Region. Also, for first time in nine years of attending this workshop I am proud to be able to announce that every student that attended preformed well enough to be awarded the SkillsUSA State Leadership Award! The students also competed in a number of competitions with specific accolades listed below. Please congratulate these students on their success if you have a chance!

 

 

 

 

 

Lee County Schools middle schoolers had the opportunity to participate in the Career and Technical Education Summer Camp. With the help of the Lee County High Academy of Engineering, Finance and Hospitality and Tourism students and staff, rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders were exposed to a variety of topics and activities. Students learned about business/entrepreneurship, robotics, mobile application development, video production, advanced manufacturing and transportation technology. At the end of the week, students competed in the STEM Camp Olympics, where they had to construct a tinfoil boat to hold as many golf balls as possible, a cage to protect a raw egg dropped from nine feet in the air with drinking straws, a balloon car and more. Who says you can't continue learning, while having fun, during summer?! See the above photo gallery for more!

 

 

 

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The Lenovo Scholar Network announced the group of finalists for their 2017 National App Development Competition.  These finalists will be reviewed by a panel of Lenovo executives, media and thought leaders, NAF corporate partners, and alumni.  We are very proud to announce that all four of our submissions from Lee County High School were selected.  Our submissions were:

Academy of Engineering

Greeley Hibbert

Jairo Diaz and Christian Starr

 

Academy of Finance

Nicolette and Olivia Rojas

Samanta Noyola-Luviano, Jessica Terrones, and Sara Zuluaga-Sierra

 

 

 

The LCHS SkillsUSA club had a great three days last Wednesday through Friday at the 2017 NC SkillsUSA State conference/competition. All of our students represented LCHS admirably and I am very proud of all of them. Harris Lanier did an awesome job presiding over the conference as the 2017 State President. I am also very proud to announce that we have another state officer for the upcoming year with Brandon Pedraza-Ramirez being elected to serve for the 2017-2018 school year. We had nine students place high enough to make the stage and receive an award/medal with accolades listed below. Five of them placed first in a national level contest and earned a chance to represent North Carolina and compete at the SkillsUSA National Conference in Louisville, KY in June. Brandon will also attend this event and participate in a intensive leadership training in preparation for his role as an officer. Please congratulate these students on their accomplishments if you see them. The chapter also won two state level awards being recognized along side of five other chapters state wide as a Quality Chapter for the second year in a row and also for being in the top 10% state wide for membership size. These awards demonstrate the hard work and dedication of our student leaders and advisers to improve and expand our chapter into one of the best chapters in the state.

 

Greeley Hibbard & Kamryn Bivens (1st Place Mobile Robotics) nationals

Jairo Diaz & Zachary Loso (2nd Place Mobile Robotics)

Harris Lanier, Marissa Thomas & Claire Quiggle (1st Place Chapter Display) nationals 

Jayden Covington (1st Place Creed)

Edgar Gonzales (2nd Place Creed)