Content by Linda Bixby, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

Each of us has a stake in the future of the Pajaro Valley. As employers, entrepreneurs, family members, and decision-makers, we need our community's next generation to be ready for the career and leadership roles they will play in the not-too-distant future.

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District's Career Technical Education (CTE) program is preparing thousands of students each year to do exactly that.

Last year, over 7,500 PVUSD students participated in work-based learning through CTE courses that blend rigorous academics with real-world skills, professional mindsets, and the essential attributes needed to thrive in college and today’s ever-evolving workplace.

Here’s how CTE is building the foundation of tomorrow’s workforce:

Industry leaders from top local trades and companies partner with CTE educators to keep programs aligned with real-world standards, technology, and workforce demands.

CTE programs create direct pathways for students to Cabrillo and other community colleges, career training programs, and four-year universities such as UC Santa Cruz and CSU Monterey Bay. All CTE courses are aligned with college admission requirements, helping increase college enrollment—often making higher education a first-time reality for local families.

CTE courses in high-growth fields such as engineering, health sciences, hybrid transportation, and climate science are attracting significant new state and regional funding. This support is modernizing learning environments and fueling the development of advanced pathways like Land, Sea, Air, and Space, all designed to spark curiosity and unlock students' full potential.

Every CTE course builds the essential human skills needed for success in today’s workplace—including collaboration, problem-solving, time management, accountability, the confidence to ask for help, and the curiosity to be an engaged learner and valuable team member.

CTE students can earn college credits and industry-level training certifications while still in high school, reducing tuition costs and accelerating students’ progress toward higher education and high-quality jobs with family-sustaining wages.

CTE is shaping a skilled and educated generation of workers, business owners, and entrepreneurs eager to drive our local economy forward and contribute to their community's vitality and wellbeing.
Act today and help shape the strong workforce of tomorrow.

SERVE AS A CTE INDUSTRY ADVISOR. We invite you to share your knowledge where it counts. Work directly with CTE educators to advise them on curriculum, classroom technology, and workforce needs. Or be part of a larger group offering data-informed guidance and strategic recommendations on CTE programs at a broader level. Your voice will help prepare students for real-world success.

BECOME A CTE PARTNER. Offer work-based learning opportunities for students during the school year. CTE Partners are especially needed in these industry sectors: