CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA) will open its doors to prospective students and their families for an open house on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 4-6 p.m., providing them an opportunity to ask questions, meet instructors and get a feel for the school’s available programs.
The demand for skilled trade workers has steadily grown over the last few years, according to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), which reported that there are over a million employment opportunities nationwide in various trades. It said that currently, the hardest to fill jobs include skilled positions in transportation and utilities, with more than 315,000 jobs available in manufacturing.
“All CATA programs have the dual purpose of preparing students for life after high school as well as providing prepared workers for our local industries. No matter what your career aspirations may be, CATA has a place for you. Not only do students learn job-specific skills, but they also gain employability and leadership skills that translate across all career paths,” said Principal Susan Powell. “All programs offer opportunities for students to leave with one or more work-ready credentials. In addition, many of our programs offer articulated credit with Wallace State for courses taken at CATA.”
Many of the programs offered at CATA allow students to earn dual enrollment credits, giving participants a leg up and possibly the benefit of reduced training time for post-graduate education. Wallace State representatives will be on-site at the open house, offering assistance choosing programs that align with dual enrollment and answering questions about the college, training and even employment opportunities that await students after graduation.
A new program at CATA that is quickly gaining popularity is Educators in Training. Interested future teachers and educators will learn teaching and classroom management practices in a controlled environment, gaining experience and first-hand knowledge as they get the opportunity to shadow teachers throughout Cullman County Schools.
Powell said she is a huge supporter of the new program, stating, “Students who are interested in teaching as a career can come to CATA and learn best practices for instructional strategies and how to develop a welcoming learning environment. As students progress in the program, they observe K-12 classrooms and learn from Cullman County’s exceptional teachers. The goal of this program is to create an excellent foundation for students who want to pursue a career in education.”
CATA programs include Auto Service Technology, Business, Carpentry, Collision Repair, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Engineering, Educators in Training, Health Sciences, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Industrial Maintenance, Precision Machining, Utility Line Worker, Welding and Army Junior Reserves Training Corps.
The CATA Open House will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 4-6 p.m. at the school. It is located at 17640 U.S. Highway 31 and can be reached by phone at 256-734-7740.
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