CTE Spotlight – Kaden Clark, Pendleton High School

Your Name:  Kaden Clark
Your Title:  Hospitality/Tourism & Foods Teacher

School/District:
Pendleton High School/Pendleton School District

What do you teach?
I teach basic culinary skills to advanced culinary practices, the importance of cultural diversity, the basic principles of opening and running a business, and much more within the hospitality and tourism industry. Students leave my class feeling comfortable in a kitchen setting and having a new-found perspective on cultural differences and their positive effect on the world.

What is your school’s CTE focus for the 23-24 school year?
Our focus is to give students the greatest opportunity for work-based learning practices and advancement in their future careers early on. Our CTE staff is working to offer opportunities many students have never had the chance to participate in before. A huge part of this is having such a great community that is constantly willing to support PHS students and their goals to work in CTE-related fields.

How is CTE work in your school making a difference for students?
The two greatest attributes I believe CTE students are benefiting from are work ethic and confidence. Our programs offer opportunities for students to leave the ever-growing mobile world and work hands-on and face-to-face with other people. I see a growing number of my CTE students willing to meet new people, promote our program, and engage with community partners because they are becoming more confident through CTE coursework. Putting students into the CTE environment we have created has increased their work ethic tenfold. It has been an amazing experience to work side by side with these students on some really cool projects this past year, and I cannot wait to see what they are able to achieve in the future.

What is something people may not know about CTE in schools?
We have some of the most dedicated and hardworking individuals leading these programs and the most caring people I have ever worked alongside. We are dedicated to working with community partners to give students greater opportunities. We are always willing to partner with other CTE programs to give students a chance to learn and engage in CTE-related activities/events. A huge part of our success is due to the amazing CTE staff and Administration who care about the future of their students and CTE.

Pendleton High School CTE Student Spotlight – Kelli Nelson

Name: Kelli Nelson
Grade: Senior

What CTE classes/pathway are you taking?
Animal Science and Agriculture, which will directly transfer to my future career of animal science and veterinary medicine.

What do you enjoy about your CTE classes at PHS?
The hands-on learning and experience are what I enjoy most. My level of engagement and retention of the information seems to increase with the real-world application. Seeing what I am learning and not just reading it from a textbook helps me develop my critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

How are CTE classes making a difference in your education?
Because these classes are educating me about everything that is happening in the world and in the veterinary and animal industries, they are improving my education. My agricultural education classes molded me into the mentor and leader I am today. We can begin to understand how agriculture affects the world around us and learn other crucial life lessons by teaching and studying it. The cycle of growth, life, and death—a cycle that all living things go through—is the foundation of agriculture.

Would you like to share anything else about CTE at PHS?
The advisors, Mr. Campbell and Mrs. Hunt are always willing to help you succeed and be your most potential self. You can always lean on them with questions or for advice.