Mr. Teh's Program Philosophy

My high school experience was very plain and boring. I was an introvert, so I didn’t have a lot of friends, and I never participated in any clubs or sport. Despite all this, I can look back and say that I enjoyed high school. If there was anything that I can say I genuinely enjoyed in high school, it would have to be my construction classes. It was one of the classes that I genuinely looked forward to everyday and made my day better. I became inspired by my teacher to do the same for other students. Aside from providing students with a getaway from the typical school experience, my main purpose as a CTE is to prepare students for careers after high school. Almost everyone around me either didn’t go to college or dropped out of college so I know that college is not meant for everyone. College is not the only option, and this is what I want my students to understand. The three key things that I want to focus on in my program are career exploration/preparation, work-based learning, and engaging instruction.

One of the things I want to focus on in my CTE program is career exploration and preparation. My program will implement scaffolding, and each course will build upon knowledge gained from the previous one. Students entering the program will be exposed to the many different fields of industry so that they can identify what interests them. Throughout the course, there will be small projects that incorporate different aspects of the construction industry. Students will also go on field trips and career fairs so that they can learn about careers from a professional within the field. Throughout the program, students will develop both technical and employability skills that will prepare them for the future. By the time students are in their junior or senior year, they will have a good idea of which career they would like to pursue. This sets them up for potential job shadows and internships with businesses partnered with the school.

The next key thing I want to focus on is work-based learning. I want my students to be directly exposed to the industry as much as possible. My program will incorporate guest speakers, field trips, career fairs, job shadows, and internships. I also plan on being an advisor for SkillsUSA at my school. Students participating in SkillsUSA can polish their skills and compete with other students from different schools. There are a variety of different competitions students can choose from. A lot of different businesses will be at the state conference, which students can talk with and ask questions. A big part of my program is for my advanced students to get the opportunity to experience the career they are interested in. This way, they can know ahead of time whether it is right for them or not. If they do end up liking it, then they will be a step ahead of everyone else and perhaps even hired by the company they interned with. The main purpose of my program is to prepare students to enter the workforce after graduation.

The last but probably most important thing I will incorporate into my class is engaging instruction. At the end of the day, I want students to enjoy being in my class. Although my program is meant to prepare future workers in the industry, I know that not all students who take my class will pursue a career within the industry. I want to provide students with an escape from the generic classes and have them look forward to my class, the same way my construction teacher did for me in high school. Students will be moving around participating in hands-on activities and building things. They will develop technical knowledge that will be assessed through tests and projects. At the end of the day, even if a student doesn’t end up pursuing a career within the industry, they will still leave with technical skills that are useful in everyday life and employability skills like communication, teamwork, and critical thinking that can be carried over to any career.

I want CTE to improve and become better at preparing students for the workforce. Students coming out of CTE programs should have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the career they have chosen to pursue. My program is going to put out quality high school graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce. This benefits both the students and the industries. Students will be more prepared, and industries will gain quality employees. Even if students in my class don’t end up pursuing a career in the industry and have other plans, their time spent in my class will still be beneficial and memorable for them. That is my hope for the future of CTE and what I envision my program to be.