Career and Technical Education Month®, or CTE Month®, is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. CTE encompasses many different types of education, from classroom learning to certification programs to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom. Today’s cutting-edge, rigorous and relevant career and technical education (CTE) prepares youth and adults for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers. CTE also offers many Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO’s) for our students; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Technology Student Association (TSA), Educators Rising, Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and HOSA-Future Health Professionals.

CTE Programs Offered in our Schools

What’s New in CTE?

World of Works

Student Internships

Higher Learning

Chesapeake Public Schools has partnered with Old Dominion University’s Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC) on a Maritime Talent Magnet pilot program at Indian River High, Oscar Smith High, and Hickory High Schools. This partnership allows Manufacturing and Electronics students to explore industry design concepts using modeling and automation equipment.

Community Partnerships

Chesapeake CTE will close out National CTE Month with the first-ever “Take A ‘Peake: Job Shadowing Day” for high school Juniors and Seniors.  This experience allows students to observe the tasks and responsibilities necessary in a particular career cluster, field, or specific job, including various opportunities with the City of Chesapeake and 15 additional local businesses.

Reimagining CTE in Chesapeake

In October of 2022, CTE administrators proposed the Career Academies of Chesapeake to the School Board. This proposed model features a new facility that will replace the district’s aging Career Center and provide a new, state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to expand our current programming and meet the needs of our local and regional workforce. The Career Academies of Chesapeake will provide six new career pathways for students to choose from that will allow them to earn industry credentials and graduate workforce-ready. This reimagination of CTE in our district is a priority in our 2023 legislative agenda.