Idaho Falls, Idaho Falls (KIFI) – The tape has been cut and the new Career Technical Education Center (CTEC) is open for operation. The center has programs designed to help students learn skills for specific careers in the medical field, emergency response, law enforcement, or firefighting. There are also classes in agriculture, culinary arts, cybersecurity, and welding.

Students at the center told us about having a place to follow their career path. “I was very excited about this opportunity. And it’s like a two-hour class where you get recognized and get a certificate. I think that’s really exciting.

Swassenberg says he joined the cooking program in the fall because of his future goal of becoming a bakery owner. She says part of the program isn’t just cooking in the classroom. “It’s kind of a good medium. I was expecting. Like making a ton of cookies and food. So that was good. I think it’s the perfect amount of work.”

Students in the EMT course at CTEC Abigail Couch say the center helps them solidify what they want to do after high school. “I really enjoy the idea of ​​helping people and thought it would be a great skill, even if it wasn’t something I would do in the future. Then I can help people if I find myself in a situation or find myself in that career.”

Couch also says the program puts students directly on one task to help them understand the concepts they’re learning. “We are currently working in a medical job so we don’t know all about EMT, but she is giving us some skills. So, because we’re dealing with trauma, we’ve been trying to assess our patients and try to save them in five to 15 minutes.”

She says the program is more demanding than she initially thought, but it’s worth it. “It’s a little trickier than I thought. I didn’t expect it to be so hands-on, but I really like that aspect of it. I think it’s something I plan to do in the future. Really. I want to make a difference.”

Both Couch and Swatsenbarg say they would recommend the program to fellow students.

District 91 Superintendent Jim Shank said students not only learn skills for future careers, but also earn high school and college credits. “It’s what they can get credit for in the state-provided CTE program, plus businesses, their needs, their wants and requirements.

He said the school district is working with local employers to help students gain hands-on experience as well as classroom experience. wants to be able to help them fill them in. Another example is that the city is very interested in what we are doing to train students for their law program. What does the police department look like in the future? If you think about the different kinds of programs that we have, that’s what we want and they It not only arouses the interest of students, but it also prepares them for what they want to do, getting the credits they can get it for…after high school.”

Shank says the building still has one classroom that needs work, but the building can help students participate in these programs in a central location within the district.