It’s all about options: Providing alternate career pathways shapes the future of schools

Jul 30, 2023

The challenge with K-12 schools has always been finding ways to keep pace with the evolution of education and the spaces used to foster learning, to meet students where they are in their journeys. With the increasing labor shortage across many industries, educators are acknowledging the fact that those journeys might look a little different, and they are taking steps to both embrace and enhance it.

The rise of CTE spaces

From woodshop and mechanics all the way to culinary and nursing, schools have long offered trade-related, specialized programs in K-12 education. The difference in today's specialized spaces is that the emphasis is now on exposure to more curriculum, programming and career pathways, rather than encouraging college as the only — or expected — option. The result is an uptick in career and technical education (CTE) spaces, both as new construction and retrofits of current buildings. "If you are following Real World Learning research data published by the Kauffman Center, you will know that only 69% of Kansas high school graduates and only 51% of Missouri high school graduates are looking at enrolling in college after graduation. This tells us that supporting multiple pathways for a student to find a career is more essential than ever in our region right now," said Kelly Brucher, client solutions manager at JE Dunn Construction.

Setting the standard

Though completed in 2019, the Johnson County Community College Hugh L. Libby Career and Technical Education Center serves as the gold standard that many local school districts are using as a blueprint for future CTE buildings in our region. This is one of the first facilities most school districts tour when they are looking to building a new CTE Center. There are several unique design aspects included in the building to promote learning around every corner. One of my favorite features is how we used different colored pipe jackets and clearly labeled ductwork for exposed mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems throughout the hallways of the building to help students visually learn all the different systems.

While new construction allows for some additional flexibility in design, school districts and administrators are also getting creative and reimagining spaces to meet their needs and those of their students. The recently completed LEAD (Learning, Experiences and Discovery) Center for the Raymore Peculiar School District transformed a vacant big box store into a state-of-the-art career and technical education facility to house new career pathways as well as their Enterprise and Design Program. Current pathways include machining, electrical, HVAC and elementary education, and future pathways include robotics and automation, plumbing and cosmetology.

"Flexibility for future changes was key to the design of this building, and always top of mind during design and construction," said Lee Moore vice president, JE Dunn Construction. "The focus now is on collaboration and project-based learning with the learning stair and makerspace, and the long-term plans — afforded by the flexibility of the space — include multiple community engagement experiences."

Open about nine months now, the early returns are positive. "The greatest return we have received from the LEAD Center is related to student-centered outcomes. Specifically, we have seen positive impacts on student-directed learning, relationships between disparate groups of students, and student confidence through the acquisition of new skills," said Michael Slagle, superintendent of Raymore-Peculiar School District. "The LEAD Center will remain at the forefront of new ideas and learning opportunities by staying open to innovative programming. Truly, our only limitation is the imagination of what's possible."

Role of local businesses

As these spaces grow in number and complexity, the question is: What can local businesses do to advance these efforts? The simple answer is look for ways to get involved. From financial support to lending time and talent, there are many ways businesses can contribute. "The common denominator of all these spaces is that they are looking for more exposure for students to local businesses," said Brucher. "Giving students immersive learning opportunities with businesses of all industries helps shape interests and encourages them to discover their talents and passions — and what that career path looks like, whether it is college or trade school."

Student engagement and business involvement come in all forms, too. To build excitement in not only their new school, but also in careers in construction, the JE Dunn project team for Piper High School has been meeting with third through fifth grade classes in the school next door to talk about project progress, explain what is happening at the site and discuss what milestone comes next. "We have been able to emphasize how important it is for a collective team to work together in order for the project to be successful," says JE Dunn Senior Project Manager Tim Ockinga. "We have had great responses and interactions from the kids. They are very excited to know more about construction and the school in which they will eventually attend."

The trend continues

Exposure to options, hands-on learning and specialized curriculum are all driving the trend of CTE spaces, and there are no signs of it slowing down. If a school district does not already have a CTE center in their district, they are looking to build one, and the facilities are getting more impressive and complex each year. Our next CTE project on the horizon is the Platte County Northland Workforce Development Center. This 145,000-square-foot facility is currently in the capital campaign and programming phase, but when complete will house over 13 programs and support students from 16 high schools in the northland.

Although CTE spaces in private and public-school districts around our region are picking up steam, I believe this is just the beginning. With new innovations in teaching style, advancements in technology use in the classroom due to the pandemic, and a new generation of students who want more hands-on careers that make a difference in their community, I feel that educational facilities are in a season of change and transformation. We look forward to continuing to be an instrumental part of building these new cutting-edge facilities, supporting our next generation of learners for years to come.

To learn more about the LEAD Center at Raymore-Peculiar School District, visit raypec.org/o/lead.

JE Dunn Construction, founded in 1924, is a domestic general building contractor in the U.S. with offices in 26 locations. The company's vision is to be an indispensable business partner for their clients by first understanding their purpose, goals and customers and then delivering transformational solutions with certainty of results. To learn more about JE Dunn Construction, visit jedunn.com.