近距离内射合集

In Rio Rancho, a 17-year-old high school student opened a coffee trailer after discovering a passion for creating specialty drinks in a culinary arts class. This summer she is serving customers outside popular shopping spots while learning to navigate business licenses, permits and taxes. Another 17-year-old was recently hired as a fabricator with a pathway into pipeline welding; a principles of marketing and entrepreneurship certificate helped build his confidence as he entered the workforce. After earning an agriculture certificate, another student took on a larger operational role at his family's alfalfa farm. These students earned more than good grades in their career and technical education courses; they found a purpose.

Too often, CTE is treated as secondary to traditional academics. In reality, when students have access to a broad range of skill development, they become invested in learning because they can see how it connects to their future. I've watched students transform when they're given the chance to study subjects that genuinely interest them.

That engagement couldn't be more important for New Mexico.

According to a recent Legislative Finance Committee report, approximately 32,000 New Mexicans between the ages of 16 and 24 are neither working nor attending school. These disconnected young people face significantly higher risks of mental health challenges, substance abuse, lower lifetime earnings and involvement with the criminal justice system. The report also estimates that disconnected youth account for more than $623 million annually in lost tax revenue for New Mexico.

Yet there is reason for optimism: 82% of surveyed young people said they would work or attend school if they had adequate support. CTE is exactly that kind of support.

Research continues to demonstrate its value. A 2024 national meta-analysis found that students who participate in CTE achieve stronger academic outcomes, graduate at higher rates, develop greater employability skills and are better prepared for college and careers. CTE is not an alternative to academic success; it reinforces it.

New Mexico has made encouraging progress expanding access to CTE, but gaps remain. During the 2024-25 school year, about 85% of secondary students participated in CTE, yet only 30% became program concentrators and just 12% earned an industry credential. Those numbers suggest that while many students are introduced to career education, too few complete the pathway.

We know what's possible when students have stable access. This year alone, 122 industry-recognized professional certifications were awarded to graduates at Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico. Certification options included medical terminology, health data administration, culinary arts, agriculture, office procedures, or food, hospitality and tourism, to name a few.

Many of our students come from rural communities or migrant families where specialized CTE programs simply aren't available locally. Online learning allows them to explore careers they otherwise might never experience. Students participate in live instruction, demonstrations, polls, interactive games and discussions that keep them engaged. Many courses incorporate college-level concepts while building essential and career-ready skills.

New Mexico has a long history of supporting CTE programming, and as the next legislative session approaches, lawmakers have the opportunity to strengthen one of New Mexico's most effective investments in student success. Whether delivered in a traditional classroom or through a high-quality online program, career and technical education helps students build confidence and begin a journey toward meaningful work. When we invest in those opportunities, we're not just preparing students for careers, we're building a stronger New Mexico.

Cynthia Solivan is the career and technical education chair and teacher at Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico.