Licking Heights High School students are reaching new heights of career preparation and achievement.
This month, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce awarded the district a $2.2 million Career Technical Education Equipment Grant. Licking Heights was one of 56 school districts in Ohio to get this grant, and it rated among the top 20 districts in terms of the amount granted.
This money will assist restore and repurposing unused high school rooms into career laboratories, as well as build pathways in industries like as logistics and supply chain management, cybersecurity and software development, and arts and visual design.
“We have worked tirelessly over the last few school years to develop pathways for student success after high school,” stated Tiffany Warren, Licking Heights’ 7-12 Curriculum Director.
“This involves providing students with the classroom, hands-on learning, and work experience required to thrive in today’s quickly changing workforce. The Career Technical Education Equipment Grant will help our students become competitive industry leaders before they graduate.”
There will also be pre-apprenticeship programs in healthcare, information technology, and business, as well as opportunities for students to achieve the state’s Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal upon graduation. The Life Skills program for special education kids will also be expanded, with the development of an in-school coffee shop that students will run for staff.
These new pathways will all fall under the district’s New Heights Program, which will improve student access to vocations and college, expand course options, and allow students to obtain industry-recognized credentials while still in high school.
“Our primary goal as educators is to provide our students with a pathway to a productive life and a strong future,” said Kevin Miller, Licking Heights’ superintendent. “The New Heights Program enables students to pursue strong, stable, and in-demand occupations while essentially eliminating all barriers to obtaining the education and skills required to succeed after high school. I am proud of our team for their hard work in earning this award and developing CTE routes for our students, and I am grateful to the state for their investment in our students.”
The district currently offers an in-house State Tested Nursing Aide (STNA) career pathway through the Career And Technology Education Centers of Licking County. Students graduate with the necessary credentials to begin working as an STNA in some healthcare settings. Each year, the district enrolls approximately 30 kids in the STNA program.
Students who finished the STNA program last year explored a variety of opportunities, including direct employment in a nursing home and advanced training at medical school. The district also provides in-house courses through C-TEC’s Teaching Careers program, as well as a variety of marketing seminars.
“For five years now, our students have found good-paying jobs right out of high school or continued with their medical studies thanks to the STNA program,” Miller said in a statement. “Completing their STNA certifications while at Licking Heights gives students a competitive advantage both in the job market and in their education.”
While C-TEC is a vital partner for Licking Heights, and LH students have excelled on the main campus in Newark, it is more than 30 minutes distant. Students who desire to pursue a career or technical education may not always have access to adequate transportation.
Bringing C-TEC programs to Licking Heights High School and implementing the New Heights Program will make career and technical education free and available to students beginning their freshman year.
“We are proud of our continued partnership with C-TEC and grateful for their flexibility in making career and technical education accessible to our students,” said Tom Holdren, assistant superintendent at Licking Heights. “This grant will help us take our own CTE training one step further while also enriching our existing in-house programs with C-TEC.”