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About CTE
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Smyrna students have access to unique opportunities through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. They can earn college credits, industry-recognized credentials, and gain work experience while still in high school. To make sure they have a steady income in today's economy, it's important for all students to keep pursuing education after high school. There are different paths they can take, like getting a two-year or four-year college degree, joining certification programs, doing apprenticeships, getting formal job training, or even serving in the military. The choice of what to do depends on each student's unique interests and skills. Below, you will find more information on each CTE School and Programs of Study.
Resources
- Job Opportunities for Students
- CTE Pathways Informational Videos
- 2024-25 Course Catalog
- 2024-25 Course Selection Guide
- 2024-25 UD Early College Credit Program
- 2023-24 Course Catalog
- Choose Your Pathway - Explore each course!
- Delaware DOE - CTE Info
- Delaware Pathways
- Schools of CTE
- Delaware Data for Career Pathway Planning
Pathway FAQs
Join a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)!
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Business Professionals of America is the leading CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology, and other related fields.
Our students are able to prepare themselves for careers in:
- Business Administration
- Finance and Accounting
- Information Technology
- Video Production
- Human Resources
- Computer Programming
- Graphic and Web Design
- Small Business Entrepreneurship
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DECA is a co-curricular component of marketing education that provides a program of student activities related to marketing and marketing education. Membership in DECA is open to all students who are enrolled in a state-approved career and technical marketing education program. DECA provides opportunities for students to develop skills in the areas of career and technical understanding, leadership, civic consciousness, and social awareness.
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
DECA enhances the co-curricular education of members through a comprehensive learning program that integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business, and promotes competition.
DECA’s activities assist in the development of academically prepared community-oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders.
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Delaware Educators Rising is a Career Technical Student Organization affiliated with the Delaware Teacher Academy. The organization provides students with the ability to participate in professional and personal development events, engage in a variety of educational competitions, and expand their experiences as rising educational professionals.
Educators Rising develops aspiring educational professionals in Delaware through hands-on experience, expanding their interest in the profession, and helping to develop the skills they need to be effective educators.
Delaware Educators Rising strives to create the "Grow Your Own" model in which Delaware school districts are supported in their early recruitment of teachers from within their own Teacher Academy.
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Program Emphasis of FCCLA:
- is the only in-school student organization with the family as its central focus.
- is a career and technical student organization (CTSO) that functions as an integral part of the family and consumer sciences education curriculum and operates within the school system.
- provides opportunities for active student participation at local, state, and national levels.
The mission of FCCLA is to promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner, and commit leader, members develop skills for life through character development; creative and critical thinking; interpersonal communications; practical knowledge; and career preparation.
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HOSA is a national student organization that provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, collegiate, and adult students enrolled in health science education. HOSA is 100% health care!
HOSA’s competitive events program, aligned with the National Healthcare Skill Standards, helps students graduate and be career and college-ready, offers six event categories including (1) health science, (2) health professions, (3) emergency preparedness, (4) leadership, (5) teamwork and (6) recognition. The 56 competency-based events provide a variety of teaching strategies that health science instructors can use to enhance student engagement and learning.
HOSA recognizes the importance of providing students with training beyond the health-specific technical skills required for entry into the healthcare field and plays a unique role in preparing students for higher education and entry-level certification (EMT, CNA, etc.) The rapidly changing healthcare system needs dedicated workers who, in addition to their technical skills, are people-oriented and capable of playing a leader or follower role as a member of a healthcare team. HOSA, a student-led organization of future health professionals, provides opportunities for students to develop, practice and refine their technical, leadership, and teamwork skills to achieve a seamless transition from education to a career.
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There are more than three-hundred distinct careers in the agriculture, food and natural resources industries. Agricultural Education and the National FFA Organization work in tandem to connect our members to those career opportunities through the Three Circle Model of Ag Education. Our model combines the strengths of classroom education, work-based experiential learning and career preparation and leadership through FFA.
Every FFA member’s journey is rooted in an agricultural education classroom. They are encouraged to apply what they learn in the classroom in a work or research-based Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). As they progress, they have opportunities to test their skills and knowledge against other members locally, at the state level and at the National FFA Convention & Expo.
As a student-led organization, members have opportunities throughout their FFA experience to develop leadership skills. They can become chapter officers, section or region officers, state officers and perhaps even a National FFA Officer. National FFA provides leadership training for members at all levels.
Our vision is to Grow the next generation of leaders who will change the world. And we realize that vision by executing on our mission to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.
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SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. We help each student excel. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service (including health) occupations.
The purpose of this organization:
- To unite in a common bond, full-time students enrolled in classes with trade and industrial objectives.
- To provide leadership for the local chapter.
- To provide recognition and prestige through an association of local chapters.
- To develop leadership abilities through participation in educational, career and technical, civic, recreational, and social activities.
- To foster a deep respect for the dignity of work.
- To assist students in establishing realistic career and technical goals.
- To create enthusiasm for learning.
- To promote high standards in trade ethics, workmanship, scholarship, and safety.
- To develop the ability of students to plan together, organize, and carry out worthy activities and projects through the use of the democratic process.
- To foster a wholesome understanding of the functions of labor and management organizations and a recognition of their mutual interdependence.
- To create among students, faculty members, patrons of the school, and persons in the industry a sincere interest in and esteem for trade and industrial education.
- To develop patriotism through a knowledge of our nation’s heritage and the practice of democracy.
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The Technology Student Association enhances personal development, leadership, and career opportunities in STEM, whereby members apply and integrate these concepts through intracurricular activities, competitions, and related programs.
The purpose of this organization is to:
- Develop, through individual and teamwork, the ability of members to plan, organize, and use a variety of resources to solve problems
- Explore technology and develop an understanding of technological literacy
- Promote high standards of learning through curricular resource activities
- Encourage students to express creativity
- Develop consumer awareness
- Provide career opportunity information pertaining to a broad range of occupations, including training requisites, working conditions, salaries or wages, and other relevant information
- Provide exploratory experiences in classrooms and laboratories, and develop partnerships in business or industry to acquaint students with career opportunities
- Assist in providing guidance and counseling for students enrolled in technology education programs in making informed and meaningful career choices
- Expose students to the responsibility of representing a large membership
- Instill desirable work habits and attitudes toward a positive way of life in students and foster a deep respect for the dignity of work
- Prepare individuals for enrollment in advanced or highly skilled vocational and technical education programs
TSA Membership provides the opportunity:
- To work with guidance on complex projects from start to finish
- To work closely as part of a team
- To compete at state and national levels
- To develop leadership skills by participating at the local, state, or national levels
- To meet and work with business and industry leaders
- To travel to organized meetings
- To meet other students with similar interests
- To contribute time and effort to a national service project
- To receive recognition through TSA’s honor society, scholarships, and achievement programs
- To have a voice in a national organization that is helping shape the future of technology education in America’s classrooms