Together, the grants will help students begin exploring their interests and potential career pathways well before they reach high school, while giving educators additional opportunities to build the skills and partnerships needed to prepare students for life beyond graduation.
The Career and Technical Education Grade Expansion Grant will:
- Provide a Career Development Coordinator (CDC) for Mount Airy Middle School
- Continue the offerings of multiple pathways for students such as Health Science, Engineering, and Technology
- Connect students with industry partners
- Ensure a CDC connects CTE learning experiences to CTE Pathway options at the high school level.
- Allows a CDC to provide students with additional exposure to Surry Community College partnerships that align with CTE pathways
The Innovation Grant will:
- Expand CTE to middle school students, providing students with earlier opportunities to explore careers and develop workforce skills.
- Provide hands-on, project-based learning through real-world projects and career-focused activities.
- Strengthen educator training through professional development, including Career Circuits CTE Summer Institute of Learning and Collaboration
- Connect students with local partners, including Mount Airy Parks and Recreation’s Summer Adventure Camp, postsecondary institutions, industry partners, and workforce trainers.
- Increase career and college exposure through field trips, summer programming, and college-based experiences.
“These grants allow us to give students meaningful opportunities to see what is possible for their futures,” said Garrett Howlett, CTE Director. “When students can explore careers, work alongside community partners, and connect what they are learning in the classroom to the real world, they begin to see a clearer path from where they are today to where they want to go.”
Through these grant-funded opportunities, Mount Airy City Schools will continue building a CTE program that connects learning to opportunity, introduces students to careers early, and prepares them with the knowledge and skills they need to take their next step with confidence.
The district has been utilizing the CTE Grade Expansion Grant since the 2017-2018 school year.