Our Mission:
The mission of the Career & Technical Education Department (CTE) is to empower all students with global opportunities while providing lifelong learning with academic and technical preparedness to succeed in their chosen careers.

CTE programs and course offerings also provide unlimited educational opportunities for all students to acquire the necessary skills needed for entry into a global workforce and/or continuing their education at the post-secondary level.

CTE Program Goals:

• To provide each eighth grade student the opportunity to identify career interests that are related to a career cluster, to develop an educational plan, and to select a logical sequence of courses.

• To offer each student career learning experiences prior to graduation from high school.

• To provide each student upon graduation with academic and technical skills needed to pursue additional education (technical school, community college, college or university) related to a career interest identified in high school.

• To provide each student with understanding and knowledge that ethical behavior and work place skills are integral to successful employment.

• To incorporate new and emerging foundation skills needed to perform tasks proficiently at current business and industry standards.

Student Organizations:
Student organizations have been established in CTE programs to support and enhance learning in many career-technical fields:

• Future Farmers of America (FFA)

• Agricultural Education

• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

• Business Education; Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)

• Marketing Education and Family

• Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

• Family & Consumer Science Education

These organizations provide opportunities for leadership development, service learning, and career exploration. Students, teachers, and parents expect that membership in these organizations will result in learning and enhanced skills as well as the development of positive values, social skills, and an ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Perkins Assurances:
Each year, the Rockwall Independent School District receives funds under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998. Under this act, funds must be made to supplement Career and Technical activities and experiences, grades 7 – 12. Use of these funds must not supplant district funding.

The assurances include observable activities at all schools receiving funds, in the following areas:

• Curriculum integration

• Staff development

• Career guidance and counseling

• Career concentration and coherent sequence development

• Nontraditional programs and activities

• Participatory planning with parent and student involvement

Contact Information:
Dr. Leta Durrett
CTE Central Office Administration
971-771-0605 Ext. 7055
ldurett@rockwallisd.org

Michelle Morris
CTE Department Chair - Rockwall High School
972-771-7339
mmorris@rockwallisd.org

Jan Hawk
CTE Department Chair – Rockwall Heath High School
972-772-2474
jhawk@rockwallisd.org

CTE Links of Interest:
Texas Education Agency (CATE)
Region 10 Education Service Center
Business Professionals of America
Marketing Education Association
Future Business Leaders of America
Future Farmers of America
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America
States’ Career Clusters Initiative
Get Career Skills with ACTE
U.S. Departments of Education and Labor