Why We Shouldn't Just Celebrate But Advocate for CTE and CTSOs this Month

February celebrates Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, a time to recognize the immense opportunities that programs such as DECA provide students. However, in the face of a changing educational scene and developing employment expectations, merely celebrating may not be sufficient. This year, Cypress Bay Deca expanded its outreach and became a champion for CTE and its "partner" Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). Beyond academics, these programs provide students with practical skills, real-world experiences, and significant professional connections. 

Here's why they deserve our unwavering support:

• Preparing Job-Ready Professionals: Today's CTE classrooms are brimming with activity; students are completely involved in hands-on projects and simulations, getting valuable experience in high-demand industries.

• CTSOs serve as springboards for pursuing various professional pathways within certain industries. Students explore their hobbies and plan their individual career paths through competitions, conferences, and networking opportunities.

• Bridging the Industry Gap: The tight relationship between CTE programs and companies ensures that courses remain relevant. Advocating enhances these collaborations, ensuring that students learn skills that are relevant to current market demands.

This CTE Month, let's move beyond celebrations and embrace action. There are countless ways one can take action, for example, at Cypress Bay Deca we used written and digital communication, verbal communication, public forums, and news media. Some ideas we used which you can incorporate in your own path to advocacy include creating and broadcasting a public service announcement (PSA) about the various CTE courses available at our school. We took part in Middle School Night to ensure that incoming students would be passionate and fully understand how beneficial DECA and other CTE courses are. To properly advocate for something as important as education and students' future careers it is crucial to contact those who have the power to make a change. For this reason, we contacted public policy makers like Mayor Margeret Brown, Scott Wyman, and handed out flyers at City Hall.

Remember, advocacy is the cornerstone of progress. By raising our voices, we invest in the future of skilled professionals, thriving communities, and a brighter tomorrow for all. So, let's all become advocates for CTE and CTSOs; together, we can ensure these invaluable programs continue to empower students and shape a successful future for all.