Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1476161
H O S P I T A L I T Y, T O U R I S M and culinary skills are the focus of this Lighthouse Academy in California's wine country. Core courses are integrated into curriculum by a team of Windsor Dis- trict Education Association members. The program includes mentorship with industry professionals, field trips and internships. Staff collaborates with the local middle school to gen- erate interest. "Some kids have never picked up a knife or boiled water, and they leave our program knowing how to cook — and all the safety and sanitation rules of how to open and close a kitchen," says Pam Uchytil-Velasquez, hospitality and culinary arts teacher. Students discover a variety of opportunities in the hospitality field, including police and fire department positions at theme parks; hotel management and accounting jobs. Several grads have well-paying jobs in the hospitality industry. Barney Kaufman, who teaches finance and entrepreneur- ship, has students do "Shark Tank" style presentations to pitch ideas. "By the end of the year, they are writing full business plans and know what it takes to start a business." Brianne Stone, Class of 2021, found purpose. "I know how to get a job and keep it. I am going to college. I know what I need to succeed." delivered part-time by ROP (Regional Occupation Pro- gram) teachers, off-site or after school. Now CTE is a program of study that involves a multi-year sequence of courses that integrates core academic knowledge with technical and occupational skills to provide stu- dents with a pathway to post-secondary education and careers." Does the new CTE meet all students' needs? Some educators are concerned about the "shift" of CTE; worr ying that pathways segueing to college have too much precedence over courses leading to blue-collar, well-paying jobs that do not require col- lege. Some wryly refer to the "forgotten 70 percent" of students who do not graduate from college, and point out that students who attend or drop out of college accrue massive debt. "ere is a serious shortage of trained personnel in every single career in the trades, be it manufacturing, the auto industry, building trades, welding, carpentry and electricians," says Lance Gunnersen, CTE com- mittee chair for State Council. " These careers pay exceptionally well, and yet we have not created the workforce to fill the need, despite the fact that college is not a great fit for all teens." e California Industrial and Technology Education Association estimates that California's middle schools and high schools have lost upwards of 85 percent of the original CTE delivery since the 1980s, says Gun- nersen, a woodworking and engineering teacher at El Dorado High School in Placerville and a member of El Dorado Union High School Faculty Association. He attributes this to the elimination of categorical funding and districts choosing to focus on mostly A-G curriculum for entrance to four-year colleges. (is focus was no doubt influenced by data showing that in general, college graduates' earnings over a lifetime are substantially more than non-college graduates.) CTE programs in the skilled trades such as auto shop, wood shop, manufacturing and construction have suffered more cuts and closures than other CTE pathways such as health care, business and STEM academies, obser ves Mike Patterson, CTA Board member and automotive technology teacher at South Lake Tahoe High School. "Cost is certainly a factor," says Patterson. "And the Students learn business and culinary skills (including baking and pastries), and can also learn all about viticulture. Below, a student handles grapes in preparation for wine season. Vineyard Academy teachers and Windsor District Education Association teachers. Back: Pam Uchytil, Terah Simeone, Josh Allard, Chris Mitts, Barney Kaufman. Front: Dana Grant and administrator Marie Ganister. "By the end of the year, students are writing full business plans and know what it takes to start a business." —Barney Kaufman, Windsor District Education Association Windsor High School Vineyard Academy W I N D S O R 26 cta.org