CMS CTE Newsletter

7-STEAM Fest 2.0 at The Pearl

9- All Pathways Matter (TAOGA)-Imaginon

All Pathways Matter Trades Fair- The Academy of Goal Achievers (TAOGA)

Nov 9-14-Endless Possibilities-Charlotte Convention Center

Endless Possibilities-Program Choice, Career & Technical Education, Career Exploration.

Saturday 11/14: Family Day

*No events on Wednesday 11/11, in observance of Veterans Days

The True Homes Homebuilding Immersion Tour occurred Tuesday, October 20.

Involved schools: Olympic, Independence, Garinger, West Charlotte, and POB.

100 CMS juniors and seniors were exposed to career opportunities in the homebuilding industry. Students rotated through 4 different stations: HVAC, Finishing & Drywall, Framing & Carpentry, and Sales & Marketing. They visited the Hoover Townes community as a part of the affordable housing initiatives part of the At Home in CMS initiative.

On October 23, students in Independence High School's Culinary and Hospitality program showcased their skills at the Pentair Charlotte Office Grand Opening, providing exceptional catering and hospitality services for guests. Throughout the event, attendees praised the students for their professionalism, technical expertise, and the outstanding way they represented both their school and CMS.

Special recognition goes to Chef Luvena Brown for securing this valuable partnership opportunity, as well as Chef Mallow and Mr. Rankins for their support and active participation. Their collaboration highlighted the power of teamwork and the real-world learning experiences available to our students.

Thank you to everyone involved for showcasing the incredible talent within our Career and Technical Education programs and for making a positive impact in our community. We are proud of the excellence our students continue to demonstrate.

The Flight Forward program is giving scholars an insider’s look at the endless possibilities awaiting them after graduation. What once felt out of reach is now an opportunity not just to explore, but to experience firsthand. Flight Forward is proving to our students every day that the sky is truly not the limit!

Photos link: https://adobe.ly/4ewhEHE.

I AM STEAM Career Expo (iamSTEAMCLT), hosted by Charlotte Works, took place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. This high-energy event connected CMS students directly with regional employers to explore high-growth careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

October is Disability Awareness Month, a time when organizations across the country recognize the contributions, experiences, and achievements of individuals with disabilities. At East Mecklenburg High School, students in the Sports and Event Marketing class planned and documented a special event that brought together varsity football players and students with disabilities for an inclusive and engaging athletic experience.

Video: East Mecklenburg’s Disability Awareness Month Event

Congratulations to West Mecklenburg High School’s Cosmetology students for their outstanding performance at the SkillsUSA State Fair Competition!

We are proud to announce that Avaryn Yang earned 5th place in Showcase! This accomplishment is especially meaningful because it marks the first win for West Meck Cosmetology at the SkillsUSA State Fair Competition in five years!

Our future beauty professionals demonstrated creativity, dedication, teamwork, and impressive talent throughout the competition. We congratulate Avaryn and all the students who participated and proudly represented West Meck.

Please join us in celebrating their hard work and success! We are incredibly proud of our cosmetology students and look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the future.

Congratulations, West Meck Cosmetology! Keep shining!

The final leaderboards are locked in ahead of the mid-season break, and the Garinger High School Esports Team is officially conquering the entire Eastern seaboard. Competing in the massive PlayVS Eastern Regional League—which spans 22 U.S. states and Washington D.C.—the Wildcats have established an elite pyramid of success that cements Charlotte as a premier hub for high school gaming.

Out of 13 competitive rosters fielded by the program, an astonishing 11 teams have locked down spots in the regional Top 100, out-surviving hundreds of rival schools across the country's most competitive time zone.

Against thousands of players from Maine down to Florida, Garinger has systematically penetrated the most exclusive competitive brackets in the league:

• The Top 10 Kings (1 Team): Sitting alone at the absolute pinnacle of the 22-state territory is the Varsity Brawlhalla squad, holding the undisputed #1 ranking on the East Coast.
• The Top 25 Elite (2 Teams): In the hyper-competitive gridiron brackets, Madden NFL Team 1 has broken deep into championship contention at #19.
• The Top 50 Force (5 Teams): Half a dozen rosters pushed past the mid-tier threshold to claim Top 50 status, including Splatoon 3 (#30), Madden NFL Team 2 (#31), and the explosive superhero tactical shooter Marvel Rivals (#36).
• The Top 100 Anchor (11 Teams): Showing incredible depth, six more squads have locked up Top 100 ranks. This includes Rocket League Team 2 (#53), Overwatch 2 (#62), Fortnite Zone Wars (#74), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (#88), and a dual-threat presence in Chess with Team 1 (#83) and Team 2 (#93).

Even the two fighting rosters are currently outside the threshold—Rocket League Team 1 (#131) and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (#179)—remain highly competitive in brackets that feature well over 300 schools.

We are at the absolute peak of the @PlayVS Eastern Regional standings!

🥇 #1 Brawlhalla (Varsity)
🏈 #19 Madden (Team 1)
🐙 #30 Splatoon 3 (Varsity)
📊 11 out of 13 rosters inside the Top 100!

Providence High School is proud to announce that Mr. Chad Rorie was recently honored with the Loretta Allman Service Award by the Greater Charlotte Auto Dealers Association. In recognition of his outstanding service and commitment to students, Mr. Rorie received the award along with $3,500 to support the Providence High School Automotive program.

Mr. Rorie is well known throughout the automotive community for his dedication to connecting students with meaningful employment opportunities at dealerships across the Charlotte metropolitan area. He continually builds and strengthens relationships with community and industry partners to create opportunities that benefit both his students and the automotive program.

Mr. Rorie exemplifies leadership in education. His commitment to students extends far beyond the classroom, creating pathways to future careers and making a lasting difference in the lives of the students he serves.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Rorie on this well-deserved recognition

Current Teacher of the Year: Matt Wykoff from Hough High School. You have made, and will continue to make not only CTE but CMS Proud. To be recognized as a state finalist for a prestigious award speaks volumes of the work you have accomplished in the classroom. -Eric Summerour

Our CTE programs don't just teach; they prepare students for the real world. That success is driven by our CTE Advisory Board, a dedicated coalition of local business executives, seasoned educators, and community leaders.

Together, these industry experts work behind the scenes to review our curriculum, upgrade our lab technology, and align our classroom training with high-demand, high-wage careers. By bridging the gap between education and industry, our board ensures every student graduates with the competitive, real-world skills regional employers are actively looking for.