From Industry to the Classroom
A Massachusetts district delivers relevant, updated skills through its career and technical pathways for students
By Mario Sousa | Salem Public Schools Career Technical Education (CTE) Director/Coop Coordinator
When I first stepped into a classroom after a dozen years in the construction industry, I quickly realized that teaching wasn’t just about what you know. It was about translating that knowledge into skills students could carry into the workforce.
On my first day in the classroom, I remember vividly standing in front of a group of high school students, their eyes fixed on me, waiting for guidance, while I stumbled through lesson plans I had never previously prepared. It was intimidating but exhilarating. That moment shaped my philosophy as a school district director of career and technical education. Today’s CTE programs must go beyond teaching technical skills.
