Debbie Smith CTE Academy: Shaping Futures Through Career and Technical Education
The Debbie Smith Career and Technical Education (CTE) Academy stands as a beacon of opportunity for high school students in Washoe County, Nevada. Named after the late State Senator Debbie Smith, a champion for education, the academy provides hands-on learning experiences in various fields, preparing students for both college and careers. The academy represents a significant investment in the future workforce and a commitment to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
A Hub for Career and Technical Education
The Debbie Smith CTE Academy is home to nine distinct Career and Technical Education academies. These programs offer students the chance to delve into specific industries, gaining practical skills and knowledge that are directly applicable to the workforce. This approach to education recognizes that not all students learn best in a traditional classroom setting and that many benefit from hands-on experiences that connect learning to real-world applications.
Programs Offered
The academy offers a diverse range of programs, catering to a wide array of student interests and career aspirations. These programs are designed to provide students with a solid foundation in their chosen field, preparing them for entry-level positions or further education. The Debbie Smith CTE Academy programs include:
Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistant: This program prepares students for entry into the healthcare field.
Building Construction and Technology: This program provides students the opportunity to develop technical skills that are used throughout the construction industry.
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Bio-Medical: The Biomedical program provides students with the knowledge and skills in inquiry science, disease exploration, human body systems, and biomedical engineering.
Welding and Metalworking: Explore fabrication, welding techniques, blueprint reading, and safety protocols.
Teaching and Training: The Teaching and Training program covers essential educational principles, focusing on human development, teaching methods, and learning processes for educational settings.
Culinary with Hospitality and Tourism: This program teaches key skills for commercial food production, including food handling, cooking methods, kitchen safety, and sanitation.
Earning College Credits
A significant advantage of the Debbie Smith CTE Academy is the opportunity for students to earn college credits while still in high school. This dual enrollment option allows students to get a head start on their college education, saving them time and money in the long run. By earning college credits, students demonstrate their readiness for higher education and gain a competitive edge when applying to colleges and universities. Many students can earn college credit through dual enrollment while still in high school, with some completing requirements for an associate’s degree before graduation.
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RISE Academy for Adult Achievement
In addition to the CTE programs for high school students, the Debbie Smith CTE Academy also houses the RISE Academy for Adult Achievement. This program provides adults in Washoe County with the opportunity to complete their high school diploma, prepare for their GED exam, or learn English as a second language. The RISE Academy plays a vital role in supporting adult learners and helping them achieve their educational and career goals.
A Transformation of Hug High School
The Debbie Smith CTE Academy is located on the site of the former Hug High School. The transformation of the school into a state-of-the-art CTE facility required over 700,000 hours of work. Project manager Santos Oriana, a Hug High School alumni, oversaw the project, pouring his heart and soul into the renovation. Oriana said, “I grew up in this neighborhood. I went to Hug High School back in the mid 80s, and coming back to do this project has been a special moment.” The renovated facility provides students with access to industry-standard equipment and technology, ensuring they are well-prepared for the demands of the modern workforce.
Honoring Debbie Smith's Legacy
The academy is named after the late State Senator Debbie Smith, a tireless advocate for education. During her time in office, Senator Smith fought to secure funding for the renovation of aging schools, including the project that transformed Hug High School into the Debbie Smith CTE Academy. Although she did not live to see the completion of the project, her legacy lives on in the academy that bears her name. The academy is the first high school in Washoe County to be named after a woman.
Debbie’s widower, Greg Smith, said she was a very humble person, adding, “She probably would have preferred to be named after someone else.” A mural honoring Debbie Smith and her commitment to education is prominently displayed at the academy. The mural features the quote “education is the great equalizer,” a sentiment that was close to Debbie Smith's heart. Greg Smith noted, “This was the perfect place to have her name.” Debbie and Greg raised their family in the construction world. The programs at Debbie Smith CTE reflect how the couple made their living.
CTE in Washoe County School District
Debbie Smith CTE Academy will be the second school in the Washoe County School District with the CTE designation. The Washoe County School District offers more than 35 Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs of study across all of its comprehensive high schools. CTE programs blend classroom instruction with hands-on work, leadership development, and career exploration. These 2 to 4-year programs are certified by the Nevada Department of Education, and maintain rigorous standards in quality curriculum, staff expertise, industry-standard equipment, and alignment with the workforce development needs of our local and regional economy. Students have opportunities to earn industry certifications and college credit while developing workplace readiness skills and connections with local businesses and organizations. From flight simulators to medical labs, Washoe County students are getting a head start on careers while still in high school.
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The district is using Career and Technical Education Month in February to highlight programs that give students practical experience and prepare them for high-demand jobs. More than 8,000 students are enrolled in courses spanning healthcare, education, construction, business, engineering, IT, forensic science, fire science, aviation, performing arts, culinary arts, manufacturing, military science, and other fields. Programs include flight simulators at the AACT Aviation Academy, building and metalworking facilities at Debbie Smith CTE Academy, medical programs at Procter R. Hug High School, and a broadcast studio at Spanish Springs High School.
“WCSD is proud to be the preferred choice for students in Washoe County, and we provide a vast variety of CTE courses, subjects, and learning opportunities,” said WCSD Superintendent Joe Ernst. “WCSD students who want to participate in one of our CTE programs - even if it is located at a school outside their zone - may choose to submit an application to attend that school. We encourage them to explore all the CTE options available in our district as they make these important decisions.”
Dr. Josh Hartzog, director of Career and Technical Education for WCSD, said, “CTE Month gives us the opportunity to highlight how hands-on, career-focused learning transforms students' futures. Whether a student pursues aviation, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, or any of our other pathways, they're gaining the technical and professional skills to succeed in the careers they choose.”
All traditional high schools in the district offer CTE courses, while AACT and Debbie Smith CTE Academy provide specialized programs with state-of-the-art facilities. Programs integrate academic, employability, and technical skills, and offer students the chance to earn industry-recognized credentials while participating in work-based learning.
Dr. Hartzog said, “We are proud to partner with dozens of businesses, employers, and local industry leaders to provide apprenticeships, training, and on-the-job experience for our students. These partnerships help us to keep our CTE program offerings timely and relevant for our students, as we continue to assess which professions, services, and trades will be most needed in our world going forward and adapt our courses to best fit those needs.”
Superintendent Ernst added, “Our district promise is to provide our students with the resources and support they need to graduate prepared for the future they choose.
A Model for High School Education
Social studies teacher Richard Clark, hopes that others can follow Washoe’s lead, stating, “Blending the CTE model with academics and making this the model for high school is something that's going to be really important.” Blending the CTE model with academics and making this the model for high school is something that's going to be really important.
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