CTE Expo at John Barrett Middle School gives students a hands-on look at future careers

John Barrett Middle School students explored a world of career possibilities at the Career Technical Education (CTE) Expo on Oct. 29, where hands-on demonstrations and conversations with high school students and staff helped connect classroom learning to real-world career paths.

The event was one of several mini CTE expos across the district, designed to introduce middle school students to career pathways offered at San Juan Unified high schools. Programs represented at the CTE Expo included construction, culinary arts, engineering, media and robotics.

“I hope that students just realize that there are a lot of opportunities out there for them,” said Nicole Latimer, principal at Sylvan Middle School, who helped bring the event to Barrett after organizing a similar one at her own campus. “Anything you’re interested in, you should pursue, and so just having the opportunity to have the exposure to the different options available to them.”

“Construction caught my eye today,” said Lilly, an eighth-grade student at Barrett. “It’s honest work, in the trades. If you choose to cheap out on it, people could get hurt.”

She added that her mom works in building maintenance, so she’s already had some exposure to the field.

“You need to see what’s out there, see what possibly you could do, find interest and experience the world,” she said.

Mason, another eighth-grade student, said the expo made him even more eager to take a hands-on elective next year.

“The building for Del Campo High School caught my attention because I’m a really hands-on learner, and that just helps me learn,” he said. “You need to try everything, even if it doesn’t look cool. You can still try it, and it still might be fun.”

Barrett counselor Debie Trotti said events like these help students begin to envision possibilities they might not have considered before.

“I just hope that they really start to see the possibilities that there are within the CTE programs,” she said. “It’s great that they can get a little peek into that, and then if it’s something they’re interested in, they know there’s an actual path to get there.”

Trotti said students gain more than just technical skills through these programs.

“They gain confidence. They gain not only the technical skills, but also project management, collaboration, good communication. It opens up a lot of doors for them,” she said.

For more information about San Juan Unified’s CTE pathways, visit sanjuan.edu/CTE.