Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers bring valuable real-world experience to the classroom. They are subject-matter experts with industry experience that inspire and mentor students. To thrive in the classroom, CTE teachers need to complement their technical expertise with training focused on mastering pedagogical tools.
The Los Angeles Unified School District and EnCorps two-year pilot—funded by the Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation—aims to train, retain and mentor new CTE teachers to ensure they are fully equipped to provide students with the education they need to succeed in the job market.
The program will support 25 new CTE teachers each year through EnCorps’ training and provide one-on-one mentoring with a LAUSD mentor teacher. The program is expected to positively impact 10,000 Los Angeles Unified students, leading to improved academic performance and a more workforce-ready student population in Los Angeles.
The 2024-25 academic year mentee cohort will attend four, in-person workshops from August 2024 to June 2025 focused on instructional best practices, including student-centered approaches, project-based learning as well as creating a classroom that is inclusive and that recognizes diverse populations. At the end of the pilot, the training will be shared with neighboring public school districts and charter networks.
In Los Angeles Unified, there are 58 CTE career pathways across 128 schools. These programs equip students with technical and academic competencies for post-secondary education and careers, integrating real-world experiences through interdisciplinary, project-based learning.
EnCorps CTE Teacher Training
The CTE Teacher Training is led by EnCorps’ professional development (PD) staff, who have extensive classroom and school administration expertise, as well as current EnCorps teachers.
In addition to the in-person workshops and on-going mentoring by a Los Angeles Unified mentor teacher, program participants are invited to attend live online events and they gain access to EnCorps’ suite of recorded PD sessions on a variety of topics including: justice, equity and diversity in the classroom; how to master classroom management; and supporting inclusive educational practices.
California-Wide Focus on CTE Education: Golden State Pathway Grant
In May 2024, California’s Governor Newson announced a $422 million Golden State Pathway Grant to provide public schools with the resources needed to provide students with a pathway to high-wage, high-skills and high-growth areas such as technology, health care and climate-related fields. The Pathway Grant serves students enrolled in career pathways, often taught by CTE teachers with industry expertise.
EnCorps CTE Teacher Training is available to all school districts, including those in California who received the Golden State Pathway Grant.
Go to our partner page to find out how to add the EnCorps CTE Training to your professional development.