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Shenendehowa teachers outline CTE pathways and industry advisers push updates to automation and robotics
Summary
CTE staff told the board that roughly 84–85% of Shenendehowa students take at least one Career & Technical Education (CTE) course; teachers described extensive hands‑on offerings from middle school through high school and said an industry workforce forum with 26 businesses flagged a gap in engineering‑technician training that the district will address by revising automation/robotics coursework.
Shenendehowa CTE leaders presented a districtwide progress report to the Board on May 26, highlighting broad student participation and new industry partnerships that are reshaping course plans.
"We're pretty fortunate because roughly 84 to 85% of our students leave Shen taking at least one CTE course," said Chris London McMahon, the district's academic administrator for business, facts and technology, summarizing internal participation data and the department's effort to create multiple on‑ramps from middle school to high school pathways.
The presentation described more than 40 high‑school CTE course offerings and an array of middle‑school exploratory options. Dan Smith, who represents the high school business department, outlined college‑credit opportunities with Hudson Valley Community College and described internship and shadowing placements, saying the department currently seeks additional employer partners to accommodate about 90 students who want workplace experiences.
High‑school technology and trade teachers emphasized hands‑on, industry‑standard learning. "Students are doing live work on customer cars, managing tools and billing and running crew assignments," said Matt Lombardi, who described auto, construction and manufacturing courses that include real projects, internships and an annual house‑building project.
District staff said the first annual workforce forum — a business advisory in which 26 local employers and the state Department of Labor participated — produced concrete curriculum recommendations. Paul Meyers and others reported employers asked the district to strengthen the bridge between engineering and career‑technical tracks by targeting engineering‑technician skills; the district plans to revise its automation and robotics course to address that need.
Superintendent Dr. Wilson Turner framed the work as both educational and economic. She noted students signing with employers and colleges at recent 'signing day' events and thanked teachers for building pathways that lead directly to employment or further education.
Board members and presenters emphasized continuing industry engagement and the need for more internship placements. The district asked community members and local businesses to contact CTE coordinators if they can offer shadowing or internship slots.
Next steps: the CTE team will continue to refine automation/robotics coursework, pursue employer partnerships for shadowing and internships, and report back to the board on implementation and placement numbers.
