“We had some CTE programs when I was in school, but it was more around farming and agriculture,” said ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Ryan Schmit. He smiled and added, “But that was not my particular interest.”

Ryan and his team worked with the school district to renovate the existing spaces to create more comfortable, effective environments for students to learn technical skills. “I love the big windows in the hallways so kids can take an interest in what their classmates are doing. The tiered, stadium-styled seating in the computer lab gives a collegiate feel. And the metal paneling in the Construction Academy is a cool finish. Mia Katz came up with that.”

TDA and Mentor Public Schools have enjoyed a partnership of over twenty years, which is reflected in the mutual respect and understanding built over the multiple projects. Ryan spoke on the importance of programs like those the school district provides and why he enjoys supporting them through design. “I like that they’re offering students opportunities they otherwise might not have to pursue careers right after high school. Giving them real-world training for jobs that are in need right now is a worthwhile plan.”

Mentor High School Principal John Fullerman sees the benefits of students gaining essential hands-on experience before graduating from high school. “Programs like we have help them see what their likes and dislikes are before they commit to them. They can discover their passions and then go for it.”

Mentor Public Schools plans to keep adding more CTE programs. John said, “That’s the nice part of these grants. They allow us to give more and more opportunities to our students.”

“I’m looking forward to Mentor Schools being a standalone CTE provider,” said Superintendent Craig Heath. “Our focus this year will be to expand the career learning opportunities for our students. We hope that by providing more specialized education experiences, they will be even more prepared to enter the adult workforce.”