February is Career Technical Education Month
Career Technical Education Month is celebrated annually in February by schools and communities across the nation. CTE programs combine academic rigor with hands-on training, equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be both college- and career-ready. Students can explore careers, gain real-world skills, and earn industry-recognized certifications. When young people enter the workforce with the technical and soft skills that business and industry are seeking, everyone benefits.
In Michigan, the number of students enrolled in career technical education is growing. State data shows there were 114,495 CTE students in 2024-2025, and a record 55,431 completed a CTE program. Monroe County is one of only 13 counties in the state that doesn’t have a tech center, but CTE programs are offered at individual schools. Monroe and Bedford, being the largest districts in the county, have the most, while the smaller districts have zero to six programs.
Monroe Public Schools currently has 605 students enrolled in 890 CTE student seats, with many students participating in multiple programs. We are very fortunate to offer 12 CTE programs onsite at Monroe High School in our comprehensive high school model. Because courses are built into the school day, students can also take advantage of Advanced Placement, Early Middle College, and other programming.
The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing business sectors in the state. With 196 students, Health Science is the largest CTE program at Monroe and offers four years of coursework. Students who complete both advanced health science options can earn Basic Life Support (BLS) and Patient Care Technician certifications. In the Clusters class, seniors can shadow employees at ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital and observe health care providers delivering services.
Construction Trades is the second largest MHS program, with five sections of first-year students and three sections of advanced students. The success of the Trojan Build program, in which students build homes from the ground up, led to Monroe’s Construction Trades program being chosen to represent career technical education at the State Capitol’s CTE Showcase in Lansing last spring. The honor was shared with Bedford High School, whose program has a similar structure. MHS construction students have also been part of several community projects that include building ramps for United Way and constructing a new Santa House for Downtown Monroe.
The other MHS onsite programs are Accounting, Business Administration Management and Operations, Marketing, Digital Multi-Media, Cybersecurity, Future Educators, Drafting & Design, Welding, and Automotive Technology. MPS hosts Introduction to Electrical Technician at Monroe County Community College. Students are also enrolled in three countywide programs – Law Enforcement at Monroe County ISD, Precision Machining at MCCC, and Cosmetology at the Michigan College of Beauty.
CTE programs integrate instruction, hands-on/lab learning, real-world experience, and participation in career training student organizations. At regional and state competitions, such as Business Professionals of America (BPA), Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES), and HOSA (future health professionals), students develop leadership skills.
An annual breakfast celebrates MPS students who completed Work-Based Learning co-op experiences and the employers who provided training stations. In 2025, 37 students were recognized, with five students receiving Co-Op of the Year honors, which really highlighted how meaningful these professional experiences are. A junior honoree was asked to return for a second co-op year, and a senior received an invitation to join the management team where she worked.
Business and industry engagement is vital to student and program success. If your business is interested in partnering with us by serving on a program advisory board or becoming a trainer/mentor to a co-op student, please contact the CTE Office at Monroe High School at 734-265-3452.
BPA STATE QUALIFIERS:
More that 400 students, representing 13 schools from Southeast Michigan competed at the Business Professionals of America Regional Leadership Conference in December. Ten Monroe High School students qualified for the BPA State Leadership Conference that will be held in Grand Rapids, March 12-15, 2026. (front row) Angel Gallegos-Castellanos, Carolyn LaVoy, Claire Hopps-Zunk; (middle row) Noah Massengill, Landon Loveland, Harper Loveland; (back) Chase Knabusch; Zamir Austin; Hayden McIntosh; (not pictured) Mattus Stone.
HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS SHADOW AT PROMEDICA MONROE HOSPITAL:
Monroe High School Health Science-Clusters students and instructor, Stevie Cousino, in front of ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital, where they completed their shadowing rotation experience.
MPS / MHS PRESENTERS AT STATE CAPITOL CONFERENCE:
Leah Morelli, Monroe Public Schools CTE Director (far left); Tom Bell and Andrew Marchese, Monroe High School Construction Trades Instructors (center); Hayven Neddo and Cole Steckmeyer, MHS construction students.
SANTA HOUSE BUILT FOR DOWNTOWN MONROE – LORANGER SQUARE:
Monroe High School Construction Trades students built a brand new house for Santa, using supplies donated by Carter Lumber and Jacobs Supply. The Santa House was placed in Loranger Square in Downtown Monroe, where visitors enjoyed free visits with Santa.
