Sullivan County Schools Director Chuck Carter told commissioners the district has expanded career and technical education (CTE) offerings and partnerships that place students on direct pathways to employment.

Carter reported that 306 students earned dual‑enrollment college credit while still in high school and that the district awarded 434 industry certifications in the most recent reporting period. He said 251 students participated in work‑based learning placements with about 189 employer partners, noting the goal is to create pipelines from high school programs into local industries. Carter added that six students earned a postsecondary credential while still enrolled in high school.

Carter reviewed funding sources and grants that support the work: Carl Perkins federal funding (used to pay for many certifications), a Perkins Reserve grant that provided $50,000 for a middle‑school STEM lab, a multi‑year Bloomberg‑supported grant cited for a ballot/health pathway, and other awards including SCORE and Gear Up partnerships with regional universities and nonprofit partners. He described local employer collaborations (including TVA placements and industrial partners) and new or remodeled lab spaces across middle and high schools for construction, nursing, culinary arts and cosmetology.

Commissioners asked for additional figures (for example, a commissioner requested historical increases in a revenue/function labeled as "CTE" for accounting); Carter said he would provide those numbers to the board after the meeting. No policy votes were taken; Carter said his visits will continue as a series of updates to the commission.