Dauphin County Technical School

We are incredibly proud to recognize our students who earned medals at the SkillsUSA District Competitions last week!

Their hard work, dedication, and professionalism truly shined as they represented our school across a wide range of technical and leadership events.

All gold medalists will advance to the SkillsUSA State Competition in April.🏆

Congratulations once again to these outstanding students and their instructors on an amazing achievement!🥳👏

#SkillsUSA #WolverinePride #studentsuccess #FutureProfessionals

Competitions did not take place at the district level, so these students move right to the State level!

Career & Technical Education Advocacy Month provides an opportunity to clearly articulate something we see every day at Dauphin County Technical School: when education is relevant, applied, and aligned to real opportunity, students succeed, and communities grow stronger.

CTE is not a shortcut, a backup plan, or an alternative to academic rigor. It is a strategic, intentional educational pathway designed to prepare students for multiple successful futures. At DCTS, Career & Technical Education works alongside strong academics to ensure students graduate with skills, confidence, and direction, whether they enter the workforce, continue to college, serve in the military, or pursue a combination of paths.

“CTE doesn’t limit opportunity, it expands it.”

Workforce research, including the work of Dr. Kevin Fleming, reinforces a key reality: today’s economy increasingly values education, training, certifications, and applied skills, not just four-year degrees. Many in-demand careers require education beyond high school, but that education often takes the form of industry credentials, certificates, apprenticeships, or associate degrees rather than a traditional bachelor’s program. Many of these options students can earn while enrolled at DCTS.

This shift is not theoretical. It reflects how employers actually hire today. Across nearly every sector, employers are prioritizing demonstrated skill, work ethic, and readiness over seat time alone. Credentials matter. Experience matters. And the ability to adapt and continue learning matters most.

“The Five Keys to Success Matter: Work ethic, Leadership, Teamwork, Respect, and Pride in Your Work”

For students, CTE provides clarity and relevance. Instead of asking why learning matters, students see direct connections between their education and real careers in their own community. Many students can enter the workforce directly after graduation, earning competitive wages without taking on college debt, while still maintaining clear, affordable pathways to college if they choose to continue their education. In fact, for many students, CTE serves as a springboard to college, allowing them to earn transferable credits, gain confidence, and pursue higher education with purpose, direction, and reduced cost.

“This isn’t about college or career. It’s about college and career connected by purpose.”

In Central Pennsylvania, this translates to real opportunity with strong earning potential across multiple high-demand fields:

• Automotive Technology: Entry-level automotive technicians earn approximately $19–$23 per hour (about $40,000–$46,000 annually), with significant wage growth through manufacturer certifications. Employers such as Faulkner Nissan and other regional dealerships and service centers continue to report steady demand as vehicles become more advanced and require specialized skills.

• HVAC & Skilled Trades: HVAC technicians average nearly $28 per hour (approximately $59,000 annually), with experienced technicians earning $70,000 or more, particularly in commercial, institutional, and healthcare settings. Demand continues to rise due to infrastructure upgrades, energy efficiency requirements, and an aging workforce.

• Welding & Manufacturing: Entry-level welders earn approximately $25–$26 per hour (roughly $53,000–$55,000 annually), with long-term demand driven by manufacturing, construction, energy, and infrastructure investment, as well as large-scale retirements across the skilled trades.

• Information Technology: IT support, networking, and cybersecurity roles often begin in the $45,000–$55,000 range, with rapid advancement through credential stacking. As nearly every industry relies on technology, these skills remain transferable, resilient, and in high demand.

• Healthcare Systems: Major regional employers such as UPMC and Penn State Health continue to expand services, creating sustained demand across clinical, technical, facilities, and support roles. Healthcare systems rely on skilled workers at multiple levels, including clinicians, technicians, support staff, and infrastructure specialists.

“When education aligns with workforce needs, students succeed, and communities grow stronger.”

Program-specific outcomes further demonstrate the value of Career & Technical Education.

Students in the Dental Assistant program graduate with hands-on clinical experience and the opportunity to take the radiology board exams, allowing them to work directly with patients and dental teams immediately after graduation. Dental practices across Central Pennsylvania consistently report difficulty filling these roles, and students who leave DCTS with this credential are competitive from day one.

Students in Computer Networking & Technology (CNT) often graduate with significant transferable college credits and, in many cases, an associate degree already completed or well underway before they even leave DCTS. This accelerates degree completion, reduces college costs by thousands of dollars, and allows students to enter either the workforce or higher education with momentum and confidence.

Beyond high school programs, DCTS also plays a critical role in adult education and workforce upskilling, supporting individuals re-entering the workforce, changing careers, or advancing in their current field. This reinforces a central truth: learning is lifelong, and CTE serves both students and the broader community.

Across Central Pennsylvania, employers continue to report difficulty finding skilled, dependable workers. Through partnerships with regional employers and organizations, DCTS programs remain aligned with workforce needs and evolving industry standards. Students graduate not only with technical skills, but with professionalism, accountability, communication skills, and the ability to adapt to change, qualities employers consistently say matter just as much as technical ability.

Career & Technical Education is also a smart investment for taxpayers. When students graduate with credentials, experience, and clear career pathways, communities benefit from higher employment, reduced retraining costs, and a stronger local tax base. Public education dollars are used more efficiently when programs align directly to workforce demand and produce measurable outcomes.

At DCTS, Career & Technical Education is at its best when it opens doors across a wide range of high-demand fields: skilled trades, health sciences, information technology, business, manufacturing, public service, and emerging industries, while also serving as a powerful springboard to college and continued education. Our programs are designed with purpose, ensuring students graduate with options: well-paying careers, transferable college credit, or a combination of both. The result is a future that is achievable, adaptable, and sustainable right here in Central Pennsylvania.

“CTE is not a trend—it is a solution.”

CTE Advocacy Month is not about choosing one path over another. It is about recognizing that today’s students need flexible, relevant education that responds to real economic conditions, and that strong communities are built when education, workforce, and opportunity are aligned.

CTE works.
For students.
For families.
For employers.
For taxpayers.
For the future of our community.

Jason Civitello

Administrative Director

Dauphin County Technical School

February is Career and Technical Education Month, a time to recognize the important role CTE plays in preparing students for success and in strengthening our local community. As workforce needs change and students seek clear, meaningful pathways after graduation, CTE has never been more relevant. At DCTS, CTE connects learning to real-world skills, careers, and opportunities that matter now in Dauphin County and across Central Pennsylvania.

Responding to Local Workforce Needs

Healthcare, construction, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality, and technical fields are all critical to the strength of our local economy. These careers require hands-on skills, safety awareness, and real-world experience. The CTE programs at DCTS are intentionally aligned with the needs of local employers and workforce trends in Central Pennsylvania. Students learn in labs, kitchens, shops, and classrooms designed to reflect real workplaces, ensuring they graduate ready to contribute on day one.

Preparing Students for Real-World Success

Today’s students need clear connections between school and life after graduation. At DCTS, students gain practical experience while earning industry-recognized credentials that demonstrate their skills to employers and post-secondary institutions. These credentials help students enter careers, apprenticeships, advanced training, or college with a head start. As a result, our students leave with more than a diploma. They graduate with experience, confidence, and a clearer sense of direction.

Preparing Students for College and Careers

CTE is designed to keep options open. Many students earn college credits, participate in dual enrollment, or pursue apprenticeships and post-secondary training. Others enter the workforce directly with valuable experience already under their belts. No matter the path, CTE helps students graduate with a clear plan and a strong foundation.

Keeping Talent in Our Community

When students see strong career opportunities close to home, they are more likely to stay, work, and invest in their community. DCTS supports this by working closely with local businesses and industry partners to ensure programs reflect regional needs. These partnerships strengthen our workforce pipeline while helping students build meaningful futures right here in Pennsylvania.

Why DCTS Matters Right Now

In a time of rapid change, DCTS provides stability, relevance, and opportunity. It connects education to opportunity, learning to purpose, and students to careers that support both personal success and community growth. Local employers are seeking skilled workers, essential industries are evolving, and families want reassurance that students are graduating with practical, meaningful opportunities.

During CTE Month, we celebrate the role Career and Technical Education plays in strengthening our community and the impact DCTS continues to have in preparing students for today’s workforce and tomorrow’s possibilities.

Claire Dacko

Assistant Director

Dauphin County Technical School

At the beginning of February, school counselors will visit programs to present course selection information and distribute course selection forms. Students are required to get teacher recommendations for all academic courses. Students and parents/guardians are all required to sign the completed form.

Before returning the form to the Counseling Office, students must enter their selected courses into their PowerSchool account. Please refer to the attached instructions for guidance on how to complete this step.

For additional details, including information about College in the High School and Dual Enrollment opportunities for future juniors and seniors, please visit the Counseling website.

The DCTS Education Foundation is an incredible organization supporting our students through scholarships and unique opportunities to enhance their educational experience.

The Foundation actively seeks new members to join its mission of making a difference. Recently, we’ve welcomed two student members, a junior and a senior—who bring valuable perspectives and energy to the team.

We’re always looking for alumni and community members to join the Foundation and contribute to the success of future Wolverines. Together, we can continue to provide life-changing opportunities for our students and build a stronger community.

Fore more information visit www.dcts.foundation

Dauphin County Technical School is a Career and Technical Center (CTC) where students receive high-quality technical instruction while also engaging in strong academic learning within the same school setting. This comprehensive model allows career education and academics to work together intentionally to prepare students for life beyond high school.

Our technical and academic teachers bring deep expertise to their respective fields and work collaboratively to support student success. Instruction is designed so that academic learning strengthens technical skill development, and technical experiences give real-world context to academic concepts. Whether students are learning in labs and shops or academic classrooms, the focus remains on helping them apply knowledge, solve problems, and develop the skills expected in professional environments.

DCTS is responsible for ensuring students meet academic expectations, including preparation for the Keystone Exams in Algebra, Literature, and Biology. These academic requirements play an important role in supporting technical programs by strengthening students’ reasoning, communication, and analytical skills. We are proud that our students, particularly those who enter DCTS with the greatest academic needs, demonstrate strong growth across all three content areas while balancing the demands of a rigorous technical education.

In their career pathways, DCTS students benefit from focused, hands-on instruction led by experienced instructors. Students spend significant time learning and practicing skills in labs and shops that reflect current industry environments. Through Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities, students extend that learning into real workplaces, gaining firsthand experience with professional expectations, safety standards, and productivity demands.

Our students’ success is reflected in their NOCTI scores, where DCTS students consistently outperform the statewide average. These results demonstrate the strength of our instructional programs and the dedication of both students and staff. Importantly, students achieve this level of technical success while also meeting academic requirements, demonstrating their ability to manage a demanding, comprehensive course of study.

At DCTS, we take pride in preparing students for what comes next. Technical mastery, academic growth, industry credentials, employability skills, and career readiness all matter. We are committed to recognizing and celebrating student accomplishments as they transition to employment, postsecondary education, military service, and lifelong careers.

Learn More - Check out our Future Ready PA Profile: Future Ready DCTS

Jennifer Spangler

Curriculum Instruction & Assessment Director

Dauphin County Technical School

Dauphin County Technical School will be taking advantage of our Flexible Instructional Day, (FID), program as outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for inclement weather days. Please note that the district can only use up to five FIDs for the 2025-2026 school year.

Also, please note that not every inclement weather day may be used as a FID. In other words, we may still cancel school days during inclement weather, and we would need to make those days up on the school calendar.

Student participation is required for a successful inclement weather FID. By continuing education during these weather emergencies, it will allow us to preserve our vacation days as scheduled while keeping instruction moving forward.

Teachers will be conducting the day using an abbreviated schedule that will be shared by your building principal. Additionally, teachers and support staff will be available throughout the school day for assistance. Please reach out to your teachers and counselors with any questions you may have. Families will receive additional instructions from the building principal regarding individual school schedules.

We are proud to announce our Staff Members of the Month! These outstanding staff members have shown remarkable dedication, talent, and a commitment to our school's success. We are proud of all they’ve accomplished and look forward to the continued positive impact they will make! Keep up the great work!

Access the complete school calendar using this link:

Dauphin County Technical School Approved Calendar