Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce Today: Career and Technology Program Success for Central Mountain and Bucktail High School

By Emily Wright

MILL HALL—The Career and Technology Center (CTC) programs at Central Mountain High School (including Bucktail High School students)  yielded remarkable results in the 2023-2024 school year. Under the guidance of Career and Technical Education Director Kurt Lynch, these programs equip students with essential skills and certifications that prepare them to enter post-secondary education and even the workplace.

The 2023-2024 school year showed outstanding performance metrics for students enrolled at the CTC. Last year, 91% of the 149 seniors who participated in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs achieved proficient and advanced scores in their final assessments. This accomplishment reflects the rigorous and comprehensive training provided across multiple disciplines.

The Cooperative Education program helps students prepare to enter the workforce upon graduating. Led by Diversified Occupations and Cooperative Education Coordinator Daci Killinger, students in this program focus on career exploration, job searching, and how to effectively apply for a job while also gaining relevant on-the-job skills. Through this program, students obtain employment and simultaneously complete classwork that goes hand-in-hand with their job position, and they can earn various certifications that benefit them after graduation. During the previous academic year, 52 students were placed in the workforce through the Cooperative Education program. 

The range of industry-recognized certifications awarded in the 2023-2024 school year further underscores the CTC program’s success. Earning industry-recognized certifications before graduation makes students more attractive to employers, and over 2,000 certifications were awarded last year, including OSHA 10, OSHA 30, First Aid, Patient Care Technician, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB), Employability Skills, and ServSafe, were awarded to over 570 students across 14 programs. 

The Dual Enrollment program offered at the CTC acts as a stepping stone to higher education, and the partnership between Keystone Central School District and Penn College has proven to be highly beneficial to students. In the 2023-2024 school year alone, 196 students earned 909 college credits across 13 classes, resulting in a staggering tuition savings of $552,672. This program enables students to earn college credits at no cost, giving them a significant advantage as they pursue post-secondary education.

Health Occupations is a multi-level program that helps students explore healthcare careers and gain entry-level skills and knowledge, such as basic clinical skills, medical terminology, patient assessment, and even pharmacology. Last year, students in this program successfully held an annual Health Fair for members of the community. 

Also offered through Health Occupations is the “Ride Along” program, which provides students with first-hand experience in emergency care by allowing them to ride along with the Lock Haven Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department. 

CTC students’ talent and dedication were further highlighted by their achievements at the SkillsUSA Competition, where they secured district, state, and national awards for their work during the 2023-2024 school year. These accomplishments brought prestige and scholarships, paving the way for continued academic and professional growth.

Staying ahead of the curve, the CTC has incorporated several new courses and programs, including Homeland Security, Entrepreneurship, and General Education. Other notable additions include the Industrial Manufacturing Technician Pre-Apprenticeship, certified by the Department of Labor and Industry, and integrated the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Curriculum into the Construction Trades program. Last, the Machine Trades course now features the NASA HUNCH program, offering students unprecedented opportunities to work on actual NASA projects.

As the 2024-2025 school year progresses, the CTC program for both Central Mountain High School and Bucktail High School students continues to demonstrate that career and technical education can truly transform lives. By melding academic rigor with practical experience, these programs are not just preparing students for the future—they are enabling them to shape it.

For more information about the CTC programs, visit https://ctc.kcsd.us/academics/curriculum or contact Kurt Lynch at 570-893-4900, ext. 4306 or via email at klynch@kcsd.k12.pa.us.