Community leaders got a firsthand look at how Kent School District students are building career-ready skills during a recent visit to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at Kent-Meridian High School.

The visit brought together Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, Marquise Dixon, Executive Director of the Kent Schools Foundation, and Trudy Swain, Kent School District's Director of Career and Technical Education, for a tour of several hands-on learning environments that are helping students prepare for college, careers, and life after high school.

Led by Dee Klem, CTE Work-Based Learning Specialist at Kent-Meridian High School, the group visited Core Plus Aerospace, Construction, and Automotive Technology classrooms, where students were learning technical skills and working on projects connected to real-world industry practices. During the tour, guests met with CTE instructors including Chris Names, who teaches Core Plus Aerospace; Tina Hegel, who leads Construction; and Tyshon Jones, who teaches Automotive Technology.

In the Core Plus Aerospace program, students gain hands-on experience with industry tools, manufacturing processes, robotics, and other advanced skills designed to prepare them for careers in Washington's aerospace and manufacturing sectors. Visitors observed students actively engaged in coursework that combines technical training with problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking.

"This program fills such a huge need in our community," said Mayor Dana Ralph. "We're creating pathways for students to access good-paying jobs close to home while developing skills that employers are looking for."

For Marquise Dixon, the visit highlighted the power of community partnerships and the opportunities being created for students across Kent. "I left today's visit to Kent-Meridian inspired by what can happen when a community truly rallies around its students," he said. "The projects we saw are grounded in real community needs, with a clear commitment to connecting students to postsecondary pathways and creating Kent jobs for Kent students. Having leaders from education, local government, and the community learning together was a powerful reminder that none of us does this work alone. The best opportunities for students are built collectively."

“We're looking at ways that we can support workforce development in the Kent Valley with students that are workforce ready,” said Trudy Swain. “Core Plus and other CTE programing provide the critical thinking, the 21st century skills, and the applied learning skills that are necessary for the foundations in any one of these industries that we have here in Kent.”

Kent School District offers CTE pathways across a variety of fields, providing students with opportunities to earn dual credit, explore career interests, and gain industry-relevant experience before graduation.