Davie High Soaring Eagles program expands CTE inclusion; students earn elective credit

Davie County Schools highlighted a pilot CTE inclusion program for the Soaring Eagles group at Davie High School, where 26 students who follow extended content standards spent a week in five different career and technical education (CTE) classes during the fall 2024 semester and earned elective credit for the experience.

Ashley King, a school counselor at Davie High who worked with the program, told the board the Soaring Eagles career exploration course aimed to integrate students into the broader student population while promoting job skills and career readiness. King said students were not visitors but classmates who completed daily journal entries and earned elective credit.

Participating courses included animal science (where students learned to care for animals and show sheep), biomedical technology (students assisted at a blood drive and learned about genetics; two students became Stop the Bleed certified), construction core (measuring, hand tools and building a small box), robotics (designing and testing robots for a classroom competition) and drafting/engineering (3D modelling and 3D printing of ornaments and key chains).

CTE instructors named in remarks included Eli Lindsey (animal science), Angela Reeves (biomedical technology), Matt Carter (construction core), Will Minor (robotics) and a teacher referenced as Mr. Wilmar (drafting/engineering). The program brought general-education students and Soaring Eagles together; senior student Caswell Moore told the board the experience helped peers see Soaring Eagles students as equal classmates and build relationships.

Soaring Eagles teacher Gigi Burgess (statement read by staff because Burgess was not present) described measurable growth: improved independence, broader peer relationships, increased self-advocacy about scheduling and curricular alignment between CTE topics and classroom science. School staff said the program will be expanded to include more students and more CTE offerings.

Why it matters: Inclusion in CTE classes provides vocational, social and academic opportunities for students on extended standards, gives general-education students hands-on experience collaborating with peers of differing needs, and produces elective credit that supports postsecondary transition planning.

What’s next: District staff said they plan to include more Soaring Eagles students in CTE classes and to continue cross-department collaboration. No formal board action was required for the recognition and pilot report.

Direct quotes - "They were such a joy ... I just had a couple things that I wanted to mention." — Eli Lindsey, CTE instructor (remarks reported during the recognition) - "They are human just like all of us." — Caswell Moore, Davie High student (public remarks describing the program)

Program details and scale - Number of Soaring Eagles students in program: 26. - Semester: fall 2024 pilot; students could remain in school through the year they turn 22 and may continue to participate in extended programs. - CTE courses involved: animal science, biomedical technology, construction core, robotics, drafting/engineering.

Speakers and contributors included school counselor Ashley King, student Caswell Moore, teacher statements from Gigi Burgess, and CTE instructors Eli Lindsey, Angela Reeves, Matt Carter and Will Minor. Staff acknowledged additional supports from Sandy Henkel (CIMC) and Sarah Davis (EC teacher) in implementing the pilot.