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New assistant principal outlines expansion of CTE programs, internships and EMT pathway
Summary
John Schmidt, the district's new assistant principal for CTE, told the committee the district will expand from five to seven CTE programs next year, adding construction management and EMT training, aim to offer industry certifications and college credit pathways and organize a local internship fair.
John Schmidt, introduced as the new assistant principal who organizes and runs career and technical education (CTE), presented an overview of existing programs and plans to expand offerings at Mount Hope High School.
"My name's John," he said as he opened the presentation. Schmidt said the district currently runs five CTE programs — graphic design, residential construction, engineering, business finance and AV/production — and plans to add construction management (a four‑year pathway) and an EMT course next year.
Schmidt emphasized industry credentials and college pathways: students will pursue industry certifications (Adobe for graphic design, Home Builders Institute curriculum and OSHA certifications in construction tracks) and the district is developing a relationship with Roger Williams to create a pathway from the school's construction management sequence into a college construction‑management major.
Schmidt said more than half of the student body has taken at least one CTE course and that out‑of‑district participation is "more than 3" students (exact counts were not specified). He described plans for an internship fair in the fall that would match 20–50 local employers and organizations with sophomore through senior students for short or longer internships.
He also described media and production upgrades planned in the new high school — a full television studio, control room and podcast recording space — and said every CTE pathway will seek relevant certifications and college credit where possible. Schmidt noted close partnerships with local groups including Rosemary Wishes and Thrive Outside for hands‑on projects.
On AI, Schmidt said the district has no formal AI implementation plan for CTE at the moment, and emphasized human-centered skills in studio production and collaborative project work that he said AI cannot replace.
Committee members offered support and asked for better public communication about how students can "dip in and out" of CTE classes without being locked into a multi‑year commitment. Schmidt said the district aims to clarify that point while preserving industry certification requirements for full pathway completion.
The committee encouraged Schmidt to return with updates and to engage the board on internship and community-partnership planning.
Next steps: administration will support outreach to local businesses for the internship fair and bring updates to the committee as the new programs are implemented.
