Lamar Consolidated HS teacher Kristin Rausch

Students and faculty in Lamar CISD are joining others across the nation during the month of February to celebrate national Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. This year’s theme is Recognizing Classroom Innovators!

Leading the “innovators” in Lamar CISD is Kristin Rausch, the winner of the Texas Technology and Engineering Educators Teacher Excellence Award. Rausch will be honored at the group’s annual conference, as well as at the International Technology Engineering Educators Association conference.

 “Kristin’s exemplary accomplishment is indicative of the hard work and professionalism she employs in her classroom to educate her students in the field of engineering,” said Joel Garrett, Director of CTE for Lamar CISD. “She is just one example of how all of our CTE teachers work to prepare and educate our students in the variety of career fields that are there for them to explore.”

Lamar CISD offers an array of CTE programs and opportunities which meet the needs and interests of a diverse group of students, Garrett said. Lamar CISD CTE teachers help students prepare for a variety of industry certifications exams which can provide the bridge to a variety of career opportunities, he said.

“Additionally, we offer the opportunity to earn college credit through articulation agreements with local colleges and dual credit with schools such as Texas State Technical College,” Garrett said. “Career and Technical education helps students begin their careers and/or continue their education after graduation.”

Among recent highlights of Lamar CISD’s CTE programs are:

• The 21 DECA students from Foster, Lamar Consolidated and Terry high schools who are advancing to state competition;

• The 10 students from the Lamar CISD Auto Technology Skills USA team who are advancing to state competition;

• The seven first-place awards earned by SkillsUSA-Criminal Justice students from George Ranch, Lamar and Terry high schools in District competition. There were also five second-place finishes and three third-place awards, as well;

• Lamar Consolidated Project Lead the Way student Nicolle Waters being chosen as a NASA Scholar; 

• Foster High student Connor Allen being the first LCISD student to successfully complete Emergency Medical Technician classes at Wharton County Junior College;

• LCISD students were awarded five Grand Champion, two Breed Champion and one Reserve Champion award at the Fort Bend County Fair. There were also first-, second- and third-place place finishes in Projects and Showmanship; and

• The Foster High School Culinary Arts team won the High School Division at the American Institute of Architects annual Gingerbread Build-off.

CTE Month provides CTE programs across the country an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE educates students to be college- and career- ready and prepares them for high-wage, high-demand career fields.

CTE encompasses 94 percent of high school students and 13 million post-secondary students in the United States and includes high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges, four-year universities and more. CTE is a major part of the solution to myriad national economic and workforce problems, such as high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and massive layoffs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly one-third of the fastest growing occupations will require an associate’s degree or a post-secondary vocational certificate. At a time when job opportunity is so critical, CTE programs in every community are ensuring students are adequately equipped with the skills to successfully enter the workforce.