SkillsUSA can be a vital component to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and ensuring all students are career and college ready. For generations Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Technology and Engineering Education has been a catalyst for STEM education. We also know there are unfilled STEM jobs and the gap for students in STEM fields is widening.
Often times when individuals think about STEM, they think of scientists and engineers which is right on target. However, what doesn’t come to mind are the numerous high wage, high skilled, high demand careers that we are preparing students for.
The magic of CTE is the definition of STEM not just Science or Technology, Engineering or Math but the integration of two or more of these topics in the context that students are passionate about. Without the combination of two or more of the STEM components you are not teaching STEM. That is why CTE is a perfect fit for STEM education.