Career & Technical Education

Briar Woods CTE Department - Halloween 2023

What Is CTE?

There is a growing need in the U.S. workforce for well-trained employees who are prepared with the 21st Century Skills that businesses and corporations have identified as critical for the challenges of our global ecomomy. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in Virginia public schools prepare today's students for their education and workplace experiences by offering quality hands-on learning in a "real-world" context.

The mission of CTE is to ensure that every graduate is prepared for the challenges of post-secondary education and the workplace. Workplace readiness skills emphasized within CTE program include: 

• critical and high order thinking

• collaboration and teamwork

•  creativity

•  personal and social responsibility

•  communication

• decision-making skills and more!

CTE Program Areas

The Career & Technical Education department consists of five program areas: 

•  Business & Information Technology

•  Family & Consumer Sciences

•  Marketing Education

• Technology & Engineering Education

• Health Medical Sciences

All program area classes incorporate teaching strategies that actively engage students in applying knowledge to real world scenarios. Some courses also provide laboratory learning experiences, such as work in the school store, gourmet foods kitchen, production lab, and more. All students are provided with opportunities to earn industry certifications aligned with the state competencies for the course.

Briar Woods CTE Teachers & Courses

Additional Information

Students enrolled in CTE courses follow a competency-based curriculum established by the Virginia Department of Education in accordance with the sixteen career clusters.  Details are available on the CTE Resource Center, which outlines the complete task list for each VDOE course.

Career & Technical Student Organizations

Enrollment in CTE courses also affords students the unique opportunity to participate in career & technical student organizations at the local, state, and national levels.  These co-curricular student organizations are integrated into the classroom experience to provide additional learning opportunities that develop leadership skills and enhance the student's perspective of the world through field trips, guest speakers, competitive events, and conferences.

 Briar Woods CTSO Information:

• DECA an Association for Marketing Students

• Educators Rising

• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

• Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

• Technology Student Association (TSA)

• HOSA - Future Health Professionals

Additional information can be accessed from the Activities page.

DECA

"DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe." 

Virginia DECA

Educators Rising

"Educators Rising is cultivating a new generation of highly skilled educators by guiding young people on a path from high school through college and into their teaching careers. By working with aspiring educators who reflect the demographics of their communities and who are passionate about serving those communities through public education, Educators Rising is changing the face of teaching."

Virginia Educators Rising

FBLA

"FBLA mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development program."

Virginia FBLA 

FCCLA

The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) mission is to promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education." 

Virginia FCCLA

Technology Student Association

"The Technology Student Association (TSA) enhances personal development, leadership, and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), whereby members apply and integrate these concepts through intracurricular activities, competitions, and related programs."

Virginia TSA

HOSA

“The mission of HOSA is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration, and experience.”

Virginia HOSA 

For additional information contact the BWHS CTE Department Chair:  Email Heather VanDyke