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Superintendent Crisscrosses the State Celebrating Career and Technical Education Month

Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Dr. Jill Underly, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, poses with CTE students at New Berlin high school.
State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly poses with healthcare pathway students at New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School during her statewide Career and Technical Education Month visits.


From State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly:
I am proud to proclaim February as #CTEMonth! Read the Department of Public Instruction's Career and Technical Education Month Proclamation

Career and technical education programs allow students to connect in potential workplaces, foster productivity and innovation, and lead to a well-educated workforce in business and industry. Letting our kids find out how they like to learn and what they like to learn allows for more engagement inside and outside of the classroom. It is a crucial component to our public schools and our state.

This past month, I have traveled all over Wisconsin with fellow Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction colleagues to celebrate #CTEMonth with several schools and communities. I could feel the unique energy each school and student brought to the table.

I can't express how much I enjoy talking with students who have such a clear-eyed passion for what they're working on and how these projects are going to influence them for the rest of their lives. These programs provide students with a profound sense of belonging and every school and district should have them.

McFarland culinary students shared some sweet treats they baked for Dr. Underly.
McFarland High School culinary students shared some sweet treats they baked for Dr. Underly.
Dr. Jill Underly, State Superintendent of Public Instruction spoke with a CTE teacher at Germantown high school.
At Germantown High School, Dr. Jill Underly visited with teachers and students in an engineering classroom.

Dr. Underly visited 12 schools across the state during CTE Month
Amery High School, Belleville High School, Bonduel High School, Germantown High School, Grafton High School, Green Bay Southwest High School, McFarland High School, Mishicot High School, New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School, New Richmond High School, Sauk Prairie High School, and Westby Area High School.

Each School and Community Offers Career and Technical Pathways that Leverage Student Interests and Community Resources and Opportunities
The breadth and depth of the programs, courses, and facilitated internships and apprenticeships available in Wisconsin’s public high schools is truly breathtaking. Dr. Underly experienced large programs in more classical CTE pathways, such as agriculture, building trades, and catering. She also saw the innovative ways that students combined their interests combining disciplines; Students who combined culinary with business to create capstone projects; Technical education combined with architecture; STEAM labs that leverage engineering skills with creative thinking.

Dr. Underly poses with CTE students in Amery.
Dr. Underly poses with CTE students at Amery High School.

Along the way, Dr. Underly met the students, educators, and employers who work together to co-create a future workforce for Wisconsin that is diverse, skilled, and ready to grow along with our growing industries and opportunities.

The future of career and technical education in Wisconsin is strong, and as long as we continue investing in it and the energy and ideas of our educators and young people, we can only grow stronger.

Dr. Jill Underly visits the agricultural stables of the New Richmond high school CTE program.
Dr. Jill Underly visits the SOAR farm operated by teacher Rachel Sauvola and her farm crew from New Richmond High School's career and technical education program.
A closing photo with Dr. Underly's student hosts at Bonduel High School.
A closing photo with Dr. Underly's student hosts and their supervisor at Bonduel High School.

Check out more stories and images from the Superintendent’s statewide CTE month travels

Dr. Underly speaks with a student who is learning welding in New Berlin.
Dr. Underly speaks with a student who is learning welding at New Richmond High School.