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Elko County School District highlights CTE growth, new programs and competitive grant requests
Summary
CTE facilitator Heather Steele reported enrollment increases, new industry-recognized credentials and competitive grant applications to expand programs including advanced manufacturing, welding, fire science, dental assisting and dual-credit opportunities with local colleges.
Heather Steele, the district’s career and technical education facilitator, gave a CTE update Feb. 3 outlining program growth, new certifications and grant requests intended to expand career-focused pathways across Elko County.
Steele said district CTE enrollment has generally increased since 2021, with strong post-COVID growth in industry-recognized credentials. "A hundred percent of our CNA students passed the Nevada licensure exam," she said, and 12 students earned a basic wildland firefighter certification. Steele noted work-based learning was chosen as a self-reported district accountability metric on the Nevada report card.
Steele described new and expanding programs: Advanced Manufacturing Technology at Elko High (funded by a roughly $100,000 competitive grant), a fire-science course at Spring Creek High developed with the Elko County Fire Protection District, a dental-assisting pathway in partnership with Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), and a new hydroponics/greenhouse project in Jackpot supported by a $60,000 award. She said West Wendover’s welding enrollment grew from five students to about 60 in one year; the district has applied for a welding-lab remodel grant.
Steele said the district has sought nearly $1.3 million in competitive CTE grants for FY 2026 to bring energy technologies and fire science to Elko High and to expand programs elsewhere. She also described partnerships that increase dual-credit opportunities with the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), TMCC, UNLV and Great Basin College (GBC), and ongoing teacher apprenticeship work with UNLV.
On funding and sustainability, Steele said the Nevada Department of Education has continued to support CTE paraprofessionals with state funds after initial COVID-era placements, and the district awaits word from the grant review committee on competitive awards.
Board members praised the students and staff. Superintendent Anderson said he plans to highlight CTE work during upcoming legislative visits and radio outreach. Steele closed by noting February is CTE Month and congratulated students preparing for state competitions.
Ending: The district will report grant outcomes when awards are announced and continue seeking industry partnerships to expand CTE options.
