CTE Newsletter
Volume 10 Edition 1 September 2025
Welcome Back SCS CTE! 👋
CTE Kicks Off an Incredible Year!
Welcome back! Our CTE programs are starting the year strong with hands-on labs, engaging projects, and real-world learning experiences in every classroom. Over the summer, we celebrated major successes from students earning industry certifications to outstanding program and CTSO achievements, and we are carrying that energy into the new school year.
This quarter, our CTSOs are actively recruiting members and preparing for competitions, conferences, and leadership opportunities that help students show the skills they've learned in environments beyond the classroom. We’re excited to showcase the innovation, talent, and hard work happening across our district’s CTE programs. Stay tuned for more highlights in the months ahead!
Sumner County CTE Continues to Raise the Bar!
During the 2024-25 school year, Sumner County CTE teachers and students achieved record breaking numbers across nearly every CTE category. These accomplishments are expanding post high school opportunities for students while enriching their career exploration experiences during their time in Sumner County high schools.
- 2,165 industry credentials earned by Sumner County students; a significant increase from 1,758 the previous year
- 323 students passed a dual enrollment class connected to a CTE course; an increase from 185 the previous year
- 311 dual credit exams passed in a CTE course; an increase from 273 the previous year
- 5,728 students participated in a CTSO as a chapter member and/or as a competitor at a district, state, and/or national conference; an increase from 5,268 the previous year
- 4,422 students participated in a Work-Based Learning experience, either enrolled in a WBL course or went on a WBL school trip; an increase from 2,023 the previous year
- 1,824 students participated on trips to visit colleges – a direct result of the impact made by our CTE Career Coaches
- 26 students earned a 3+ on an AP Computer Science exam
Welcome to Our New CTE Teachers!
Sumner County is excited to welcome 17 new high school CTE teachers for the 2025-2026 school year:
- Ashleigh Tyler-Dilbeck- Criminal Justice (BHS)
- Brooke Clark- Education (GHS)
- Matt Overton- Business (GHS)
- Paul Pitts- Business (GHS)
- Peyton Sutton- Ag (GHS)
- Christopher Davidson- Aviation (LCHS)
- Tori Langman - Ag (LCHS)
- Ashley Bogle - Education (PHS)
- Allie Gregory- Digital Arts (PHS)
- Sarah Johnson- Ag (PHS)
- Drew Van Huss- Education (SCHS)
- Cherie Abner- Education (WHS)
- Alyssa Farris- Ag (WHS)
- Clifton Barna- Business/Marketing (WHHS)
- Beth Brown - Culinary (WHHS)
- Rachel Watts - Education (WHHS)
- Amber Arnold- Health Science (WHHS)
Sumner County Student Named Tennessee CTE Student of the Year
Each year, ACTE recognizes one outstanding CTE student across the state of Tennessee. For the 2024–2025 school year, we are thrilled to celebrate Liberty Creek High School senior Katelyn Williams as the recipient of this prestigious award!
Katelyn put her Health Science training into action when she resuscitated a man who suffered a heart attack while she was working as a lifeguard at the YMCA. Her quick thinking and skills quite literally saved a life.
We are incredibly proud of Katelyn—not only for her heroic actions, but also for becoming the first Sumner County student to receive this honor.
Hands on From Day One!
The first weeks of school have been full of action in our CTE classrooms! Students are rolling up their sleeves for labs, projects, and activities that turn theory into practice. Whether it’s designing, building, creating, or problem-solving, these experiences are helping students connect classroom learning to real-world skills right from the start.
Alumni Returns to BHS!
Connor Landry, a 2020 Beech graduate spoke with Beech health science classes about careers in EMS and demonstrated use of various EMS equipment. Connor completed the Diagnostics pathway and earned his CET (EKG technician) certification before graduation. He continued at Vol State and now works for Sumner County EMS as a paramedic.
The Chamber Visits MHMS
Mrs. Kim Baker, CEO and President of the Gallatin Chamber of Commerce, spoke with Amy Morgan's MHMS Intro to Entrepreneurship and Honors Entrepreneurship classes about entrepreneurship in Sumner County. She shared that the Chamber of Commerce helps entrepreneurs start, grow, and promote their businesses- no matter the size. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with our future entrepreneurs, Mrs. Baker!
GHS Cosmetology Visits Nursing Home
GHS Cosmetology students serve two local nursing homes every other week. The students get to practice on the residents and earn how to cut many different types of hair. On this trip the students did 20 haircuts and 10 manicures! They even got to use hair chalk color to give the residents some fun colors!
HHS Entrepreneurship Stocks Commando Corner
The new HHS Entrepreneurship class has been learning about inventory and designing merchandise for the school store, Commando Corner. Marketing I classes have already shown us what they know with Tik Tok parodies about the marketing mix. It's an exciting year in HHS Marketing!
WHHS Restores Old Car
Students in Mr. Brown's upper level automotive classes at WHHS are working to restore an old car!
Big Day of Firsts at PHS!
CTE students at PHS had a BIG day of firsts learning to use different equipment in their programs of study. On this date, it was the first time students in Intro to Welding used equipment after passing their safety tests, the first haircuts of the semester for Cosmetology 2 students, and the first time students in Fashion were using the new light boxes for their design sketches!
LCHS Student Passes T Joint Weld Test
Students in Mr. Madison's class were working to pass their T Joint Weld test. As part of the evaluation process, each student had to determine what they thought their skill/weld would be worth per hour in the job market.
GHS Students Work with Sheriff's Office/Sumner County Jail
The Gallatin High School Criminal Justice 4 class receives specialized training to prepare them for work in the Corrections industry. Upon completion of the class, graduating high school and turning 18, they are certified to work in the Sumner County Jail. The students complete 9 weeks of training from the Sheriff's Office and 9 weeks from Mr. Russo, their teacher, in which they learn resume building, career planning, etc.
Crime Scene Processing at PHS and HHS
Students in the PHS Criminal Justice III program processed a mock crime scene as part of their hands-on training. During this activity, they practice securing the scene, documenting evidence, taking photographs, and collecting items using proper forensic techniques. These exercises help students understand the importance of detail, accuracy, and chain of custody in real-world investigations, preparing them with both knowledge and practical skills for careers in law enforcement and forensic science.
HHS Criminal Justice III Forensic Investigation students are practicing their search patterns while having to manage keeping a secure crime scene. Students were required to collect 100 colored poker chips while conducting a proper search pattern and maintaining security while annoying bystanders (HHS Teachers) would distract and attempt to illegally enter each crime scene.
It's exciting to see programs across the district practicing these skills!
WHS Students Tour Vol State Community College
On August 28, 2025, Westmoreland students along with Mrs. Jamie Wallace, school counselor, and Mrs. Kim Baughn, CTE Career Coach, toured the Volunteer State Community College campus while investigating future opportunities.
While on campus, two students, Ecko Fuller and Timothy Alvarado were selected to receive $500 scholarships to help them pursue their future pathways at VSCC.
LCHS Aviation Explores Density
Students in Mr. Davidson's Aviation class at Liberty Creek High School built hot air balloons to learn about air density and what happens when it gets warm.
SCHS Practicing Splinting Patients!
Students in Ms. Ayre's Nursing Education and Ms. Rayburn's Health Science class partnered together to learn about properly applying splints after an injury. The students then had the opportunity to practice splinting different types of injuries.
WHS Makes Edible Computers
Westmoreland High School Computer Science Foundations students got a taste of technology by creating edible PCs! They identified and labeled the internal components of a computer making learning both fun and delicious.
CTSOs are Building Momentum!
Career and Technical Student Organizations are off to an exciting start! Chapters across the district have been busy recruiting new members, hosting kickoff events, and preparing for upcoming competitions. These opportunities allow students to grow as leaders, put into action what they've learned in the classroom, and represent our programs on local, state, and national stages.
FFA Members Take on the Fair!
Many of our local chapters attended the state fair and competed in various competitions. See their success stories below...
27 Liberty Creek High School FFA members went to FFA Day at the State Fair. Members participated in a scavenger hunt and competed in various competitions:
🐂🐖Livestock Judging: Sophia Seney, Ella Pigg, Samson Seney & Clayton Warchus
🎤9th grade Speech: Addison Frost
🎤10th grade Speech: Sloan Schneider
🎤12th grade Speech: Cheyenne Dickson
🐓🥚Poultry Judging (8th place): Samuel Garrison & Malak Mannon
🩺🥼Vet Science: Sophia Gentry & Allison Martz
💐🌸Floral Design: Brinlee Morris & Ella Pigg
🦉🦌Environmental & Natural Resources: Kinsley Lewis & Kaiden Carter
8 Hendersonville High School FFA Members attended the Ham Breakfast at the Wilson Co.-Tennessee State Fair. They mingled with legislators and heard the latest news from US Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins. Members include Levi Howald, Jackson Pierce, Kendall Hinman, Hallee Jones, Kaci Ashworth, Kaylin Lagan, Khloe Waller, Brooklyn Deland.
A big congratulations to the Westmoreland High School dairy team! They competed in the state FFA and 4H Dairy Evaluation Contests. They earned the District Champion title and placed top 10 in the state. This was the first time many of these students had competed!
HOSA Students Show Their Skiils!
See some familiar faces? The Beech High School Health Education group from the 2024-2025 school year is the face of the new Tennessee HOSA website! We are so proud of the way they represent Sumner County Schools!
From Left to Right: Hannah Mumford, Harper Jaggers, Addison Wedde, Autumn Thomas , and Maddie King
SCHS HOSA Students Practice Ostomies!
Station Camp High School HOSA students practicing with ostomies. Pictured from left to right:
Caden Costello, Steven Abraham, Tyler Fair, Daniel Jiang, Dylan Griffin, Anna Grace Rector, Hadlie Jones, Miah Herrera, Kailey Young, Leila Brundage, and Zoe Young
Packed House at LCHS HOSA Meeting!
It was a packed house at Liberty Creek High School's HOSA interest meeting! We can't wait to see what these members accomplish this school year!
HHS HOSA Visits Nannie Berry
Hendersonville High HOSA students taught a Hands-Only CPR class to Nannie Berry’s 4th graders as an enrichment activity to complement their learning module, A Great Heart, which explores both the literal and figurative meanings of a great heart.
SCHS FCCLA Sees National Success!
Station Camp FCCLA had 3 National qualifiers last Spring at SLC in Chattanooga. Lilly Juechter, Bella Mallicote and Lexi Cunningham. All three attended NLC in Orlando in July and brought home Silver.
HHS FCCLA Practices the Creed
Hendersonville High FCCLA students participated in a "speed interview" style activity to learn the FCCLA Creed and exploring what it truly means to uphold timeless values with a clear and conscious purpose.
Skills Shine in Summer Camp
Students in Mr. Ellithorpe's welding summer camp had a chance to learn and practice new skills that help them become career ready and further their interest in welding.
Club Rush at HHS!
Hendersonville High School students had the chance to explore a wide range of career and technical student organizations during this year’s annual Club Rush event. This event kicks off the annual CTSO membership drive for many organizations
BHS DECA Hosts Club Rush
Beech DECA organized and participated in a Club Rush on August 16th where 25 clubs at BHS set up booths to promote their programs and recruit members!