Pima County students and their families are invited to a Saturday event highlighting dozens of hands-on educational opportunities that will prepare students for in-demand post-high school careers.

Pima JTED is a public career and technical education district with 15 central campuses throughout Pima County. It serves students enrolled in public, private, charter and home schools and students under the age of 22 who are in the process of earning a GED.

JTED does not offer core curriculum classes or award high school diplomas, but students receive hands-on instruction in their areas of study and counselors offer guidance to help achieve their educational and career goals.

The Saturday showcase will include more than 30 program displays, hands-on activities, live demonstrations and opportunities to meet with students and instructors. It’s taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at JTED's Innovative Learning Center, 3300 South Park Avenue.

JTED’s goal is to help high school students jump start their careers, earn extra credits and obtain licenses and certifications.

The district partners with businesses, industries, and Pima County’s 14 other public school districts to provide students with access to more than 40 different programs, including licensed nurse assistant, robotics and manufacturing, cosmetology, graphic design, early childhood education, and more.

JTED has helped more than 5,000 students earn Industry certifications and licenses and has an 80% placement rate in careers, college or the military. And each year, the district's more than 120,000 alumni collectively bring in around $2 billion in estimated earnings.

 “My favorite part of the event is seeing prospective students so interested in developing skills that will enhance their lives and set them up for a career,” Craig Mills, JTED’s Video Production Manager, told Tucson Spotlight. “Watching nervousness turns to confidence when students operate heavy equipment, or drive a nail with our construction students, or step behind the curtain with our welding students.”

Mills said their target audience for the event is high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are looking to get a head start on their career, find their passion or figure out if they want to pursue an area of interest as a career.

The showcase is also aimed at those students’ families and anyone interested in working with JTED, including industry professionals with no prior teaching experience. 

In addition to hands-on learning, Pima JTED also offers internships and work-based learning opportunities. During the summer of 2023, students were placed at businesses including Banner Ina Primary Care, Gadabout, Dove Mountain Veterinary Clinic, and O'Rielly Chevrolet.

This year’s showcase will feature a pair of new programs – certified caregiver and medical laboratory technician – for prospective students to explore. The district is also always expanding their use of new technology, which will be on display at the event as well.  

During past showcases, some of the most popular program displays have been culinary arts, where students serve food they’ve prepared on site; heavy equipment operations, which lets students try operating the bucket on an excavator; cosmetology; veterinary assisting; and fire service. 

“I joined the Cosmetology program with JTED knowing nothing about the program or the industry. I was given many opportunities to practice my skill on mannequins and real people,” 2014 grad Charity Wilson said in a testimonial on the district’s website. “I walked out of the program confident in my ability to learn and grow in the industry.” 

Mills said the biggest misconception about JTED is that people assume it is a trade school or “alternative school of sorts for students who can’t make it in a regular high school.”

But JTED students still attend their regular high school classes during the day, taking part in their JTED program after school.

Data shows that career and technical education students are more likely to graduate high school, perform better on tests and are more successful when entering their post-high school education.

Enrollment for the next semester of JTED classes opens next Monday. Parents and students can find details on the district’s enrollment page or contact a counselor for more information.

“We hope to see a record turnout this year,” Mills said. “We can’t wait to meet the next class of students to come through our programs and show them everything we have to offer.”

Abbie Andrus is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at asandrus@arizona.edu.

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