By Jennifer Fredrick

MHS Career and Technical Education Coordinator

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s website, career and technical education (CTE) focuses on the exploration of the self in relation to the world of work. Whether moving on to further education, training, or employment, every Wisconsin student takes part in curriculum-based career awareness, exploration, planning, and preparation, leading to a realistic, individualized career plan that is compatible with the student’s abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

CTE in the School District of Marshfield exemplifies this every day, including the month of October as Wisconsin celebrated Manufacturing Month. Due to retirements and business expansion, there will be significant job opportunities in manufacturing. The School District of Marshfield has many opportunities available to students to help them learn more about careers in manufacturing, this month focusing on careers related to working with metal.

On Monday, Oct. 10, 25 students in Marshfield High School’s Metal Technology Capstone course interacted with an instructor from Advanced Welding Institute. The instructor spoke with students about Advanced Welding Institute’s role in preparing students for work in welding through training and certification. The instructor explained industry expectations for welders and desirable employability skills as well as quality welds and how they are evaluated. With the help of Ben Will, Marshfield High School technology and engineering teacher, students will select one certificate and work towards certification this school year.

Students in Will’s Metal Technology Capstone course also networked with human resources professionals and managers from A&B Process Systems and V&H Trucks on Friday, Oct. 14. Professionals constructively evaluated students’ first welding projects of the school year, talked with students about opportunities in the industry, and reviewed characteristics of an ideal employee at their places of business.

Four of the 25 seniors in Will’s Metal Technology Capstone course are working as youth apprenticeship students in manufacturing. Mark Geiger, a Marshfield High School senior working at Stratford Sign Company, commented about the business-education partnerships Will offers in his classes, “The presentation from Advanced Welding Institute helped me learn about industry expectations. Through my youth apprenticeship job, I decided to pursue a career in welding, and I’ve been able to build my résumé while in high school.” Geiger has recently been accepted into Mid-State Technical College’s welding program and plans to begin classes in the fall.

Not only are Marshfield High School students exposed to high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand careers, so are students at Marshfield Middle School. On Oct. 5 almost 300 Marshfield Middle School eighth-graders and their teachers explored careers in manufacturing on the Heavy Metal Bus Tour. The tour highlighted career pathways in regional manufacturing. Students learned about engineering and design, welding and fabrication, robotics, and numerous other exciting career and educational opportunities located in the Marshfield area.

If you would like more information about Career and Technical Education in the School District of Marshfield, contact Jennifer Fredrick at fredrickj@marshfieldschools.org.