by Dr. Gladys I. Cruz
District Superintendent, Questar III BOCES
Career and technical education (CTE) programs offered by BOCES, school districts, and community colleges, are essential. Modern CTE is not the “vo-tech” of the past. These programs – which include agricultural science, automotive technology, aviation, construction technology, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts, electrical trades, EMT, fire science, gaming, heavy equipment, HVAC, nursing, and welding — integrate core academics in math, science, and English with hands-on, real-world application. The good news is that the enrollment in CTE programs in this region and across the state is rising.
These programs address middle-skills credentials that provide pathways to occupations that are high-paying for early-career workers that do not necessarily require a four-year undergraduate degree. In fact, there is an annual shortage of nearly 712,000 certificates and associate’s degrees aligned with these occupations, projected to last through 2032, according to research by Georgetown University. Many of these openings are in occupations that are crucial to keeping our infrastructure intact, our communities safe, and our industries thriving.
This comes as our skilled trades workforce is aging. In fact, about 40 percent of this workforce is 45 years or older. As these seasoned professionals retire, there are not enough trained young people to replace them, leaving a critical gap in electricians, welders, auto mechanics, HVAC technicians, and other skilled positions.
Taught by industry professionals – the chefs, law enforcement veterans, and business owners who truly understand their field – these CTE programs are designed to be responsive, consulting with committees of business, labor, and higher education leaders to stay ahead of industry trends and technology.
Furthermore, CTE is an ideal vehicle to realize the bold vision of the State Board of Regents to transform our graduation measures through the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. The Portrait aims to ensure that every graduate is equipped with essential attributes beyond traditional book knowledge, including critical thinking, effective communication, collaboration, citizenship, and being reflective and future focused.
Through CTE programs, students learn these skills through hands-on projects, whether it is troubleshooting a faulty circuit, designing and reading blueprints for a construction project, or running a simulated business.
These skills are particularly relevant as businesses and industries explore and adopt artificial intelligence (AI). While AI and automation are poised to disrupt many white-collar skills, they simultaneously highlight the irreplaceable value of our skilled trades.
While AI can write code, it cannot bend electric conduit, install a heat pump, diagnose and repair an unusual engine sound, or excavate a delicate area. CTE is where human skills, including technical expertise, problem-solving, and collaboration, are needed to develop and maintain the massive physical and digital infrastructure that powers AI.
To secure a robust, resilient future for New York’s economy, we must continue to celebrate and invest in CTE programs. They are not an alternative to academic success; they are the pathway where academic rigor meets career readiness, ensuring our next generation is not only prepared to find a job but to build the world of tomorrow.
At Questar III, nearly 100 percent of our CTE students graduate from high school – and they do so with a jumpstart on their peers. They earn technical endorsements, industry certifications, work connections and mentors, paid apprenticeships, and advanced college credit.
Local high school students can learn more about Questar III CTE programs by visiting www.questar.org/CTE, speaking with their school counselor and parents, or signing up at their high school to visit one of our technical schools as part of our prospective student visitation day in January.