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Spring 2024

Empowering students for a future of career and college readiness through CTE

Students in Advanced Sports Medicine classes at LSHS

Students in Advanced Sports Medicine classes at Lake Stevens High School use an Anatomage Table to visualize, manipulate, and virtually dissect the human foot using detailed 3D models. Hannah Avent, far left, is also using her classroom knowledge to assist the high school athletic trainer during football games.

 

As the job market evolves, preparing students for career and college readiness is more critical than ever. To support students along this journey, Lake Stevens School District (LSSD) has nearly 50 Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings that are more than just classes—they are gateways to real-world skills and careers. From understanding human anatomy in Advanced Sports Medicine to the precision of crime scene analysis in Forensics, our programs are tailored to shape the future of each student.

Available to seventh- through 12th-graders, and reaching into elementary schools with clubs and activities, our CTE program is a testament to the district’s commitment to educational excellence.

Our vision is for students to leverage their CTE experiences to build meaningful and rewarding careers

Dan Tedor

“It’s our job to ensure that our students have the opportunities and resources they need to thrive in a competitive world,” said Dan Tedor, Director of CTE. “Our vision is for students to leverage their CTE experiences to build meaningful and rewarding careers—and it’s happening! By fostering an environment where students can engage their interests and talents, our CTE classes and clubs are not only preparing them for future success, but also helping them gain both state and national recognition for their efforts.”

Imagine delving into the intricacies of the human foot, understanding its 33 joints, 26 bones, and the network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that allow us to walk, run, and jump. This is an example of the daily exploration of students in Erik Mahler’s Advanced Sports Medicine classes—part of the Health Sciences Course Pathway at Lake Stevens High School (LSHS)—where the body becomes a living textbook. In addition to learning human anatomy, students earn industry-recognized First Aid and CPR certifications. 

“I’m interested in pursuing a career in the medical field after graduation, and this class is a good start to learning the parts of the human body and how they function,” said Hannah Avent, an 11th-grader at LSHS.

Avent is able to apply her classroom knowledge as she assists the high school athletic trainer during football games. In addition to this hands-on experience, she also earned community service hours as part of her High School and Beyond Plan, a requirement for graduation. 

Students in Forensics classes determine a bullet’s path

Using a trajectory rod and string, students in Forensics classes determine a bullet’s path. This intricate work involves a lot more patience and detail than the quick resolutions portrayed on TV. This year-long, lab-intensive course teaches students to master skills from basic crime scene photography to evidence analysis. They cover everything from fingerprinting to toxicology, and from analyzing hairs and fibers to understanding ballistics and drug testing.

 

Moving from the medical field to the analytical world of forensics, the Forensics classes at LSHS—part of the Skills & Technical Sciences Course Pathway—offer a practical and real-life application of forensic science. It’s not what you see on TV! Under the leadership of Jon Dufay, students gain a comprehensive understanding of evidence analysis, from fingerprinting to toxicology.

This class is fascinating and very hands-on, and I enjoy applying the skills I’m learning

Kamryn Wenz

“This class is fascinating and very hands-on, and I enjoy applying the skills I’m learning,” said Kamryn Wenz, a 12th-grader at LSHS. “I’m interested in a career that focuses on neurosciences, and this course is very versatile and gives me many opportunities to explore various components of the field.”

LSSD’s CTE program is organized into five program areas with multiple pathways to post secondary opportunities: Family & Consumer Sciences, Skilled & Technical Sciences, STEM, Business & Marketing, and Health Sciences. Each program area has pathways that are designed to align with current academic and industry standards, ensuring our students are not just prepared for the future but are actively shaping it. These pathways align with the goals and strategies in students’ High School and Beyond Plan, and are personalized to ensure alignment with students’ aspirations and the needs of the workforce.

Many students have already earned college credit through these CTE courses with dual credit opportunities in partnership with Washington state community colleges, technical colleges and universities. Students also have access to earn Industry Recognized Credentials that support entry into the workforce! CTE students are both college and career ready!

Lake Stevens Middle School’s Guitar Club

Have you ever seen a canjo? It’s a cross between a guitar and a banjo, literally made with a can. Here, students from Lake Stevens Middle School’s Guitar Club visited Hillcrest Elementary School, where they introduced students to the instrument and taught them a rousing rendition of “Hot Cross Buns.”

 

At the middle and elementary school level, students are collaborating across schools to engage in CTE learning and fun. In Alex Moll’s CTE STEM Guitar Club at Lake Stevens Middle School (LSMS), students spent three days visiting Hillcrest Elementary School where they introduced students to canjos—a fun cross between a guitar and a banjo, literally made with a can. 

Students in Moll’s Design and Modeling classes handcrafted the canjos, which were then gifted to Hillcrest. During the visits students had brief lessons on how to play the instruments, starting with “Hot Cross Buns.” Moll’s hope is to be able to provide each of LSMS’ feeder elementary schools with a classroom set of canjos for the music room. 

“My seventh-graders were incredibly excited about this leadership opportunity,” said Moll. “Some of my students are very timid and quiet, and it was wonderful to see them take on this leadership role while learning and practicing important skills.”

CTE classes are so much more than educational offerings—they are a commitment to our students’ futures, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and experiences to thrive in an ever-changing world.