A new Model for CTE

After years of planning by a number of partners, there is a new model for delivering career and technical education (CTE) courses in the region.

Fifteen high school students from Lakeview, MACCRAY, Montevideo, Renville County West and Yellow Medicine East started a unique Medical Careers Program in January. This program matches regional labor market needs, fills gaps in the courses that high schools are able to deliver, and meets students’ interest in elective courses. Healthcare is one of the career fields that drives the economic engine for the region and medical/health careers are consistently the top interest among high school students.

These five high schools agreed to be part of a pilot project to share resources and pool students to form a class they could not offer on their own. The Introduction to Medical and Health Careers course is a “hybrid” course, which includes online instruction, face-to-face instruction and community based opportunities. Students meet two days a week at Minnesota West-Granite Falls with SWWC instructor Shanda Walker. Students engage in classroom discussion, go on field trips, have guest speakers, and participate in job shadowing experiences.

The success of this program has sparked an interest by several other schools.  Courses will begin at the Minnesota West campus in Luverne and the Windom Hospital starting in September.  Schools who've registered students include: Adrian, Heron Lake-Okabena, Jackson County Central, Luverne, Murray County Central, Pipestone, Red Rock Ridge, and Windom.