Career and Technical Education

Greetings CTE Team,

I hope that you've have had a great October! As we begin November, there are some instructional areas that should be a focus.

• Continue to work on your program compliance. The TAPE link for compliance has been previously shared with you.
• Credentialing should be a priority. We have several opportunities that are available from state pathways (https://www.alabamaachieves.org/cte/).
• Make sure you are embedding Math, Literacy, and Science in your lesson planning.

Please feel free to reach out to the CTE department if you have any questions; we will be glad to help you.

We have a lot of great work ahead of us to provide opportunities for students. Wishing an inspiring and productive November.

Warm regards,

Zac

Grissom High School HOSA proudly participated in the 22nd Liz Hurley Ribbon Run to support the fight against breast cancer and make a positive impact in our community. Our Chapter Historian, Cassidy Yeager, placed 1st in her age division and 91st overall with a time of 23:19. Proceeds from the race benefit the Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund at the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, helping to provide cutting-edge technology, advanced diagnostics, and free support classes for survivors. This year’s event will fund vital upgrades to the Huntsville Hospital Breast Center, including enhanced software for two 3D mammography machines—improving image clarity and allowing radiologists to make faster, more accurate diagnoses. Our HOSA members are honored to contribute to this meaningful cause and champion change in health care.

GHS Health Science Interns participated in Red Ribbon Week at McDonnell Elementary School, engaging K–5 students with fun, hands-on games and activities that promoted making smart and healthy choices. Through interactive learning and positive role modeling, the interns encouraged younger students to live drug-free and make decisions that support their overall well-being.

Huntsville City Schools has been named a 2025–2026 Alabama Work-Based Learning Best Practices Winner by the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship—specifically its partnership with Huntsville Hospital. Over the past few years, 63 students across all six high schools have completed over 14,000 work hours, earned more than $180,000, and worked in 31 departments. This model was presented at the Regional Convening and is one of nineteen contenders for the Governor's Alabama WBL Seal of Excellence. Read more here: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/o/HCT/article/2487070

On Friday, October 17th FCCLA and FBLA participated in the UAH College of Business-

Business Blitz High School Competition. Amiyah Battle, Blanca Gonzales-Cardenas,and Dylan McNish, won 3rd place in The Innovation Challenge: Health and Wellness for Teens.

On 10/24/25 Lee High FACS students participated in AgriFCS Fridays with Lenese Vaughner. AgriFCS Fridays is when AAMU FCS faculty and students visit local classrooms to support a planned lesson, program, or lead an engaging activity. The students participated in a financial literacy Kahoot and learned how to prepare a healthy snack.

Jemison High School (Health Science) hosted a blood drive through LifeSouth on October 13, 2025

Our Columbia High School JROTC cadets proudly represented the program at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing Family Day! Cadets assisted with event setup, guest service, and support throughout the day—demonstrating professionalism, teamwork, and leadership in action. Their commitment to serving the community reflected the core values of JROTC.

Precision Machining & Greenpower students work together to build race cars. Greenpower students designed the parts and Precision Machining students built the parts. Great team work!

Important Dates

November 11- Veterans Day No School

November 26-28 Thanksgiving Break

HCT Tour Dates

Huntsville City Schools will allow the 8th and 9th grade students to tour the new Huntsville Center for Technology!

• Middle Schools November 24th and 25th

• High Schools November 17th-21st

Stand Against Bullying

“Bullying is a significant problem nationwide. It can cause school absenteeism, mental and physical stress, poor school performance, poor self-esteem, and in some cases, school violence. Students who experience bullying are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school. Bullying can also happen online. Reports of cyberbullying among public school attending students are highest for middle school (33%), followed by high school (30%), combined schools (20%) and primary schools (5%). Teachers and parents play a critical role in creating a climate where bullying is not tolerated. It has been proven when adults and children stand together, bullying ends."

Educators are encouraged to participate in activities and programs that educate students and families about ways to practice positive conflict resolution and acceptance of others.

Together Against Bullying - Pacer Center

988- Suicide and Crisis Hotline

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors wo can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Lee High School recently had the pleasure of welcoming Brian Mitchell, Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President with Regions Bank, to speak with our math classes about the importance of investing and planning for retirement.

During his visit, Mr. Mitchell engaged students in an interactive discussion about building healthy financial habits, understanding compound interest, and preparing early for long-term financial stability. He emphasized how small, consistent investments can lead to significant growth over time and encouraged students to begin thinking about their financial futures now.

Students were eager to learn about real-world financial decision-making and appreciated Mr. Mitchell’s practical advice and relatable approach. His visit not only reinforced key math concepts but also demonstrated how financial literacy plays a vital role in everyday life.

Lee High School extends a heartfelt thank you to Mr. Mitchell and Regions Bank for investing their time and expertise in our scholars. Partnerships like these help our students connect classroom learning with essential life skills that will benefit them well beyond graduation.

Lee High School’s 9th Grade Exploration Day was an exciting and impactful experience for our freshmen scholars! Throughout the day, students rotated through three engaging sessions, each designed to inspire, educate, and prepare them for the journey ahead.

The first session featured Ms. Gloria Betts from the Tim Brown Resource Center, who delivered a powerful and uplifting message. Her motivational talk encouraged students to believe in themselves, set goals, and overcome challenges with confidence and determination.

In the second session, representatives from the Alabama Cooperative Extension led a hands-on “Reality Check” activity. Students took on the role of adults managing real-world finances — balancing checkbooks, paying bills, and making budgeting decisions based on a simulated monthly salary. This interactive experience gave them a valuable glimpse into financial responsibility and the importance of planning for the future.

The final session was led by Mr. Watkins, our dedicated Career Coach, who guided students through the three main pathways available after high school — college, career, and military. He emphasized the importance of setting goals early, developing strong habits, and taking proactive steps now to prepare for whichever path they choose.

9th Grade Exploration Day was a meaningful opportunity for our scholars to gain motivation, practical life skills, and a clearer vision of their futures. The lessons learned will help them navigate high school and beyond with purpose and confidence.

Mrs. Chappell has been spending time with her middle school students! Each month Mrs. Chappell visits the 8th grade at Hampton Cove and Huntsville Jr High and gives them a lesson on career exploration. The month of October was all about the Holland Code! Students first completed a worksheet to figure out what their Holland Code (or RIASEC Code) was and then utilized the Alabama Career Planning System on the computer to see if their codes matched what they previously scored. They then explored different careers related to that Holland Code. The students enjoyed learning about themselves and exploring careers they hadn't thought about previously.

Email: zachary.mcwhorter@hsv-k12.org

Website: hcs.org/district/career-technical-education

Location: 2603 North Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, AL, 35810

Phone: (256) 428-7810