Connected to CTE

We are happy to kick off the new semester with the newest edition of our CTE Newsletter! We are embarking onward into 2026 with recharged energy and commitment toward our CTE goals! As we continue moving forward through the school year, we will double down on our efforts to connect opportunities and partnerships to our CTE classrooms. The CTE Department will continue sharing news from our programs of study, showcasing student achievements beyond the classroom, sharing family and student resources, linking scholarships, and much much more!

Upward and Onward!

Career & Technical Education (CTE) provides opportunities for students to gain career-focused experiences and certifications through specific industry pathways. Pathways serve as the sequence of courses for each Program of Study that students will follow throughout high school. Earning four or more credits in a pathway in addition to a CTE industry-based certification also allows students to earn a CCMR point. Floresville High School currently offers 10 Career Clusters and 14 Programs of Study, consisting of 59 different courses!

Programs of Study currently include Industrial Maintenance, Business Management, Animal Science, Plant Science, Agricultural Technology & Mechanical Systems, JROTC, Digital Communications, Teaching & Training, Exercise Science, Wellness & Restoration, Diagnostic & Therapeutic Services, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity, Welding, and Automotive & Collision Repair.

Please visit our CTE webpage for more information!💻

https://hs.fisd.us/o/hs/page/cte

• January 6: First day of the Spring Semester! 🏫
• January 8: HOSA meeting at 10:07 in the FHS Library.
• January 10: BPA Regional Leadership Conference in La Vernia will be taking place.
• January 12: Alamo Academies Sophomore Informational session will be held in the FHS Cafeteria from 5:00pm-6:30pm.
• January 12: FFA Meeting will be held at 6:30pm in the FHS Cafeteria.
• January 14: Clinical Rotations started for our Health Science Theory classes!
• January 15: TSIA2 testing will be taking place in Room 117 from 8:00am-4:30pm.
• January 17-25: FFA events will be taking place during the Wilson County Junior Livestock Show. 🐑
• January 24: ACE Race Team competes at Southwest HS from 8:00am-4:00pm!
• February 1-28: February will kick off CTE Month - a month dedicated to showcasing and spotlighting CTE programs, staff, students, and all CTE successes! 🥳
• February 3-6: Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Steer Show will be taking place.
• February 4: Area VII Tractor Tech Contest will be held.
• February 5: HOSA meeting at 10:07 in the FHS Library.
• February 5-7: San Angelo Ag Mech Show will be taking place.
• February 9: FFA Meeting will be held at 6:30pm in the FHS Cafeteria.
• February 9: San Angelo Goat Show will take place.
• February 9-10: San Angelo Steer Show will take place.
• February 10-28: FFA events will be held during the San Antonio Livestock Exposition.
• February 13: TSIA2 testing will be taking place in Room 117 from 8:00am-4:30pm.
• February 19: CTE Night will be held in the FHS Competition Gym and CTE Alley from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Please stop by to learn more about what our CTE programs are all about! 🌙

Creativity and collaboration were on full display across our classrooms! Students and teachers worked on crafting meaningful items to present in appreciation for our school board members, highlighting the talents being developed across our programs. Floral design students created beautiful arrangements, while our industrial maintenance students crafted and stained seasonal stars, each item reflecting pride, skill, and appreciation for our school board's continued support.

We are also excited to celebrate several programs that were awarded Education Foundation Grants to further enrich hands-on learning opportunities. Congratulations to our Animal Science, Arts & A/V, Industrial Maintenance, Ag Mech, and Welding programs, whose grants will help to enhance equipment, resources, and real-world learning experiences for our students!

Physician Assistants work under the supervision of a physician to examine, diagnose and treat patients in a healthcare setting. They are also commonly referred to as PAs. Physician Assistants routinely prescribe medications, educate and counsel patients, provide treatment for patients and assess the progress of their patients. Positions in this career path are expected to grow by 20% between 2024 and 2034, much faster than the average rate! This career requires a bachelor's degree, typically focused on healthcare or biology as well as postbaccalureate study. PAs are required to be licensed and must pass their licensing exam. The University of Texas, Texas Tech Univsersity and Baylor University all offer programs suited to this career!

CTE courses through the Diagnostic & Therapeutic Services pathway under Health Science can be helpful in building skillset needed for this industry! The average salary for this position in Texas is $132,810 and increases to $133,260 on a national scale! Positions in the healthcare field often require students to build employable skillsets, such as compassion, demonstrating emotional stability, maintaining effective communication abilities, and being detail-oriented.

From the classroom to real-world impact, our Career and Technical Education pathways are bringing learning to life! Students in the Industrial Maintenance pathway are putting their skills to work in meaningful, hands-on ways. Under the guidance their CTE teacher, Mr. Johnson, students have successfully designed and built sturdy benches for our campus tennis courts, demosntrating teamwork, precision, and craftsmanship.

In addition, students applied their technical and creative skills in the completion of holiday-themed items, such as nesting Christmas trees and Christmas stars. These projects reflect the problem-solving, collaboration, and pride in workmanship that define the Industrial Maintenance pathway. We are very proud of the amazing work they are turning out in the shop!

Our Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) continue to provide students with valuable opportunities to learn, compete, and connect classroom skills to real-world experiences.

The ACE Race Team received a generous donation from our friends over at South Texas Business Partnership. The donated items allowed our team to begin constructing a second race car for the ACE Race Series! We truly appreciate Mrs. Rebecca Viagran, President & CEO of South Texas Business Partnership, for stopping by our campus to deliver items to our Automotive teacher, Mr. Ovalle! Thank you for your support and generosity! Our ACE Race Team will be putting their skills and new car to the test once again on January 24th at Southwest HS!

FFA students also represented our school with pride at the Texas FFA State Competition, earning strong placements through their hard work and dedication! The Agriculture Advocacy team finished 5th, making this the 9th time that this team has qualified for State and the 8th time to finish in the Top 10 at the State level. FFA Broadcasting finished in 4th place, marking the 5th time they have qualified for State and the 2nd time for them to finish in the Top 10 at the State level. The Public Relations team finished 2nd, making this the 14th time for the team to qualify for State and the 12th time to finish in the Top 10 at the State level. These accomplishments mark the first time that three FFA teams have made it to the Finals and the first time that there have been three FFA teams in the Top 5 for the State! We also want to congratulate our FFA Team who competed at the Fort Worth Stock Show last week. During the event, Landen Mutz placed 7th in his class with his Light Weight Hereford Steer and earned a spot to walk in the sale ring! These are tremendous results and we could not be prouder of our students and their sponsors!

Members of our BPA (Business Professionals of America) team participated in a field trip experience to DFW, where they explored marketing and branding strategies behind one of the nation's most recognized sports organization, the Dallas Cowboys! The BPA team will also be competing on January 10th in La Vernia! We wish them luck during their events! Our BPA students also competed at the Regional Leadership Conference in January and did a phenomenal job! They competed in several different events, advancing to State in Business Law & Ethics and placing in Interview Skills. We are proud of their hard work and dedication and look forward to cheering our BPA team on at the State competition in Dallas, TX!

Meanwhile, our TAFE students are gearing up as they head to the State competition! Ten members of the TAFE team advanced from Area to State and will compete later this semester in Dallas!

Over in our Welding program, our SkillsUSA Team competed at the end of January. Results from the competition demonstrated the skillsets of the entire team! In the Welding Team Fabrication event our SkillsUSA Team placed 2nd and 3rd while our Welding Applications student competitor, Kelton Stokes, placed 3rd in that event as well! In addition to such fantastic results, our Opening & Closing Ceremonies Team will be advancing to State once again!

We are proud of all our CTSO sponsors and students for their continued achievements and involvement showcasing leadership, professionalism, and a committment to excellence! Let's keep cheering them on in all of their endeavors!

We are always thrilled to work with community members and to build opportunities to showcase our programs and our students' achievements!

If you are not sure about how to get involved, here are some suggestions:

1. Become part of our Advisory Committees : Community members with industry experience can serve on advisory committees. These committees will meet several times throughout the school year to provide guidance on curriculum, industry trends, and relevance of programs to workforce/labor market needs. These meetings are a fantastic way to begin building a pipeline for highly-qualified future employees as well!
2. Guest Speaking: Industry professionals can volunteer to speak in classrooms about their career experiences, trends in their industry, or specific hard/soft skillsets. These presentations provide students with real-world insights and can inspire them to explore different career paths!
3. Job Shadowing: Community businesses can offer job shadowing experiences to students, allowing them to observe and understand various careers. This helps students make informed decisions about their future path and build connections with local businesses.
4. Internships & Apprenticeships: Community members and businesses can host students as interns or apprentices. These hands-on experiences give students practical skills and workplace knowledge while allowing businesses to mentor and shape future talent in their industries.
5. Program Sponsorships or Donations: Local businesses and individuals can sponsor CTE programs by providing financial support, equipment, or materials. This funding can help enhance the program's capabilities, provide scholarships, or support student-led projects and competitions.
6. Mentorship Programs: Community members can mentor students by offering career advice and personal development. This one-on-one support can make a significant impact on students' confidence and career readiness.
7. Volunteering for Events or Competitions: Members within the community can volunteer to help organize, judge, or support CTE-related events, such as Career Fairs, skill competitions, or expos. These events highlight student achievements and bring together students, families, educators, and businesses.
8. Worksite Tours: Businesses can open their doors for worksite tours, giving students a chance to explore different workplaces and industries. This helps students visualize their potential future careers and better understand workplace environments.
9. Partnership Development: Local businesses and industries can work with schools to create formal partnerships. These partnerships might include co-developing curriculum, offering professional development for teachers, or creating pipeline programs that prepare students for specific careers within specific companies.
   
10. Advocacy & Awareness: Members of the community can help advocate for CTE programs by raising awareness of their value and impact in preparing students for the workforce. This advocacy could involve speaking at school board meetings, engaging in social media campaigns, or participating in community forums.

By engaging in these roles, community members can help enrich CTE programs, create stronger connections between education and industry, and ensure that students are prepared for successful careers!

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) has opened the official public comment period for proposed new TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills) for Fire Science & Safety as well as an Occupational Safety & Compliance Lab, with comments being accepted from December 19, 2025 - January 20, 2026. These proposed standards are being considered for final adoption to expand and align CTE offerings. Stakeholders can review and submit feedback during this time before SBOE votes at its upcoming meeting.

In addition, TEA (Texas Education Agency) has published updated CTE Course Catalogs and Course Change Logs as of December 2025. These resources reflect the latest course listings, program structures, and changes resulting from recent revisions and other rule updates.

As these updates progress, we look forward to the exciting opportunities that will continue to strengthen and expand high-quality CTE pathways for students!

• Myth #1 - "CTE leads to a narrow set of jobs." The Truth: CTE opens doors to a wide range of high-demand, high-skill careers across industries such as agriculture, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, technology, and more!
• Myth #2 - "CTE programs are only for students who already know what career they want." The Truth: CTE helps students discover their interests by exploring different career pathways, building confidence, and developing transferable skills that apply to many future options.
• Myth #3 - "CTE is only hands-on and not academically challenging." The Truth: CTE blends hands-on learning with strong academics, critical thinking, communication, and technical literacy skills essential for success after graduation.

Q: What is a CCMR point?

A: A CCMR point refers to a point earned by the student that is tied to College, Career & Military Readiness. These points are evaluated by the Texas Education Agency as one of the areas of focus when examining campus and district performance. Students can earn a point through multiple avenues as well, such as by earning an industry-based certification through their CTE course(s). CCMR also benefits students by helping them prepare for their future and demonstrate readiness for success in postsecondary settings.

Q: What is a completer in CTE?

A: Completer: A completer is a student who completes, passes, and receives credit for three or more high school CTE courses for four or more credits, including at least one level 3 or level 4 course, from within the same program of study.

Thank you for your continued support of our CTE programs! We are looking forward to an awesome school year and building out new connections and partnerships!

Reach out to our department if you have any questions about our programs of study, certifications, or if you are interested in getting involved with our programs! Our contact information is below:

CTE Coordinator

Salyna Guanajuato-Galvan

830-393-5370 Ext. 21008

sguanajuato1@fisd.us

CCMR Counselor

Kim Ackley

830-393-5370 Ext. 21009

kackley@fisd.us