Helen K. Foster leads as Superintendent of Schools for the Coalinga-Huron Unified School District of California. Since accepting the role in the summer of 2015, Dr. Foster has increased the number of career and technical education opportunities available to district students.
Career and technical education, or CTE, provides students with skills that can be directly applicable to the contemporary workforce. It offers focused training for students who hope to seek employment directly after high school, yet it can also provide highly beneficial pre-professional experiences to students who plan to pursue a post-secondary education.
Unlike vocational training of the past, which targeted students unlikely to attend college, CTE blends academic learning with career education. This balanced perspective not only increases a student's likelihood of continuing their education beyond secondary school but may also lead directly to a greater chance of employment and to higher wages in one's first year following high school graduation.
Relevant to students with a broad range of interests, CTE offers opportunities in 16 different career categories, from manufacturing to arts and communications. Connections to job opportunities as well as certification and degree programs provide pathways to continuing success while strengthening connections between high schools and their surrounding communities.
