CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman City Schools’ career tech efforts are getting a major boost this year, as the system has been awarded a $189,00 grant from the Alabama State Department of Education. The grant will support Cullman City Schools Career Technical Education projects as part of a career tech education middle school expansion grant.
The funds will be in support of the educational initiatives of the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), creating an opportunity for schools to establish, expand and reinvent career and technical education experiences for students. The school system will use the support to create a STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classroom for students. Cullman City Schools was one of only two grant recipients in the region.
“We are grateful to be the recipient of this grant from the Alabama Department of Education,” Cullman City Schools Secondary Curriculum and CTE Coordinator Lindsay Brannon said. “Career and technical education in middle school has the power to expose students to college and career options and equip them with the transferable skills they need to plan for and succeed in high school and beyond.”
The course curriculum supported by the grant will bring together modern technology, community partnerships, problem-solving, interdisciplinary instruction and global perspectives as part of a student-centered, collaborative community. That will be integrated into a broader program that spans from middle school through post-secondary opportunities.
Students will be offered STEM Technology I, II and III courses in middle school. High school students will have the option to take the CTE Pre-Engineering or Computer Science Program pathway. The goal is to open more post-secondary opportunities to as many students as possible.
“In today’s technology-driven world, more than half of all students will be expected to use STEM as part of their future careers. Providing students with early exploration exposure and training is vital,” Brannon said. “The earlier the training begins, the more likely students will understand and consider STEM career options. With this STEM grant, we will outfit a STEM classroom with state-of-the-art technology and engineering equipment. iMacs, iPads, robotics, coding programs and other STEM equipment will be purchased.”
