Connected learning gives students exciting ways to pursue their ambitions. At CTE Foundation, we believe in the power of targeted investment to spark change, transforming our education system into an accelerator for student empowerment and economic growth.  

Sometimes, a relatively small grant can act as a catalyst, setting off a chain reaction that embodies our core idea: set students up for success after high school by aligning academics, career opportunities, and student ambition. This is beautifully illustrated by a recent $5,000 grant awarded to Santa Rosa High School’s Building and Construction Trades program, specifically for their Cabinetry pathway. This seemingly modest investment is already laying the groundwork for profound systemic shifts, demonstrating the immense value of intentionally designed career pathways and robust industry partnerships – all hallmarks of what we call connected learning. 

Addressing a Clear Student Need: Bridging the Disconnect 

The foundation of this project stemmed from a crucial understanding of student needs, reflecting a broader challenge we see in education: the disconnect between today’s learning and tomorrow’s promise. Data from the YouthTruth survey revealed a significant gap: only 32% of Sonoma County high school students agree that their school has helped them understand the steps they need to take to have the career they want. Students at Santa Rosa High mirrored this sentiment, reporting that their school wasn’t effectively helping them understand their career paths. This wasn’t just a hunch; it was a clear signal from the students themselves, indicating a need for more relevant, practical, and career-connected learning experiences. 

While the existing cabinetry pathway offered some skills, a deeper dive into local labor market data (Perkins 2019-2024 Bay Area job openings) highlighted a critical mismatch. The demand for cabinet makers, while present, is relatively limited with276 jobs with a starting hourly pay of $19.15/hr. In stark contrast, the core construction trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, boast over 10,000 openings with significantly higher starting wages ranging from $28.40 to $36.64 per hour. This data underscored the urgent need to align curriculum with current and future industry demands to ensure students are truly prepared for viable, well-paying careers right here in Sonoma County. 

Building a Bridge with Industry 

The $5,000 grant was strategically deployed to address these challenges head-on, primarily by establishing an industry advisory board. This board isn’t a symbolic gesture; it’s the engine driving the systemic shift, a prime example of CTE Foundation’s commitment through our investments in connecting partners. Comprised of local industry leaders and community partners, this board is tasked with designing a CTE pathway that is truly relevant and responsive to the needs of both students and the workforce. 

As Matt O’Donnell, the dedicated teacher leading this work, recently shared with his advisory board, their involvement has already made «a real impact.» This direct engagement ensures that the curriculum isn’t just theory; it’s infused with real-world industry standards, safety protocols, and the practical skills employers are actively seeking. It’s about bridging the gap between classroom learning and the demands of a professional trade environment, ensuring learning experiences that link student ambition, academic curriculum, and career opportunities. 

From Curiosity to Passion 

Even in its initial phase, the project has yielded impressive results, demonstrating how connected learning allows students to grow their curiosity into passion: 

• Work-Based Learning Opportunities: Students participated in a 3-day on-campus framing project, toured active commercial construction sites, and visited Santa Rosa Junior College’s Carpentry and HVAC training facilities. These are concrete examples of work-based learning (WBL) and project-based learning (PBL) – core components of connected learning. 

• Industry Expertise in the Classroom: Guest speakers, including advisory board members like electrical contractor Erik Stieg, have led hands-on demonstrations, providing invaluable insights directly from the field. This directly connects academic skills to life skills. 

• Essential Certifications: Students are actively completing their OSHA 10 certification, a vital credential for entering the trades. 

• Connected Pathways: A new Building and Construction Trades curriculum has been written, ready for district approval. This curriculum is designed to align with Santa Rosa Junior College’s Carpentry program, offering a clear pathway to articulated college credit, directly addressing the «college vs. career» mindset by showing how academic rigor and career readiness go hand-in-hand. 

• Facilities in Motion: Work has begun to clear out outdated storage space in the shop, a crucial step towards creating more usable instructional areas for hands-on projects that will empower students to learn and grow. 

Systemic Shifts in Motion: A Clear Shorthand for Value 

This small investment is indeed setting systemic shifts in motion for Santa Rosa High School and potentially other sites and districts, embodying our goal to create a clear shorthand for this work’s value without relying on jargon. We call it Connected Learning.

Supporting advisory boards ensures that curriculum development is continually informed and shaped by the evolving needs of local industries. This is about connecting what’s happening in the classroom to career paths. CTE Foundation supports our school sites in recruiting advisory board members and serves on committees as well, aiming to ensure that our education partners stay informed and curriculum stays relevant. 

Aligning pathways with high-demand jobs and providing practical, project-based learning, helps students see the direct purpose of their education, addressing the «not feeling ready for college and career» challenge.  

This initial grant is a testament to the power of a foundational investment. CTE Foundation, as an intermediary, plays a crucial role in connecting resources for these efforts. 

CTE Foundation is incredibly proud to support Santa Rosa High School’s proactive approach to career education. This $5,000 investment in an industry advisory board is proving that by intentionally designing relevant career pathways and building upon strong industry partnerships, we can create truly impactful, systemic change that empowers students to define and align their ambitions with paths to high-wage, high-growth, and high-skill careers right here in Sonoma County. This is the essence of connected learning: more engagement now, more readiness for the future.