February is Career and Technical Education Month® (CTE), a time to celebrate our schools, programs, staff, and students who are working to develop the essential skills required for today’s workforce. Students choose a different type of education when they choose CTE; more hands-on, physical, and career focused.
With our country facing a significant skills gap, these students are stepping in to fill the void. A CTE program not only prepares them for a successful career but also ensures our workforce remains competitive and resilient.
Join us as we highlight and celebrate all things CTE this CTE Month. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn to learn more about our programs and our students.
Questar III BOCES Agriculture Science student Hannah Ferrer is a senior at Marilyn A. Noonan School at Durham from Germantown Central School District. With a love of plants and animals and experience working on a farm, this program seemed like a natural fit for Hannah.
“This program is definitely preparing me for my future,” said Hannah. “I’m getting a lot of certifications, including Stop the Bleed and OSHA 10. We have a lot of hands-on learning, classroom labs, and field trips. It’s mostly hands-on, not a bunch of worksheets. Yes, there is work with our program, but it’s all to enhance your knowledge on things you can use in the real world.”
The program has seen a significant outdoor expansion over the last 12 months with the addition of its community garden and outdoor animals – goats, chickens, and rabbits. Hannah and her classmates helped plan out these program features.
“We played a big role in the new spaces,” shared Hannah. “We helped with the layout, deciding what to plant where, as well as the fences for the animals. Most of it was student-led but with teacher guidance.
“My favorite part is having the animals here,” Hannah said. “We put in so much effort to get them, now we get to spend a lot of time with them and learn to care for them.”
Hannah Ferrer and classmate Adrianna Moon placed first in their competition.at the 2024 NYS Convention.
Another program expansion came last year when the school launched its Future Farmers of American (FFA) chapter. Here, students further develop their skills in the world of agriculture, along with building leadership, communication, and career readiness skills. They network and compete against other students at regional, statewide, and national events.
“FFA is just a crazy, surreal experience,” said Hannah. “There are so many different people from so many different backgrounds. You can never get bored talking to new people – there’s just so much out there in agriculture! It definitely helps with your speaking and leadership skills. I never used to talk to people, I would always be very shy. But FFA has helped me learn how to speak to employers and others – it’s much easier for me now.”
Another way students work on life skills is through integrated academics. In math class, Hannah shared they learned about the stock market, while in English, they learned how to apply their skills in the real world, preparing them for a job or college. These are all skills that stay with a student throughout their life.
“I would recommend our program because it’s been a great experience,” Hannah said. “Even if you don’t follow through with an ag career, you learn skills that you can take with you throughout life or use at home. It’s really good knowledge to know and have under your belt.”
As for what’s next for Hannah, she is considering taking online courses at Columbia-Greene Community College while working full-time after graduation. She shared that she’s into plant genetics, but also enjoys animals; she is looking for a position that works best for her while fulfilling her passions.
