Downey superintendent talks Career Technical Education, Apple in state of the schools address
Downey Unified superintendent Dr. John Garcia speaks at last Friday’s State of the Schools. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)
DOWNEY - Downey Unified Superintendent Dr. John Garcia announced expansion of the district’s Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways and programs at this year’s State of the Schools address.
The eight annual event – used as a way to update leaders, educators, business owners, and Downey residents on DUSD’s recent achievements and upcoming goals– returned Friday morning to the Los Angeles County Office of Education West Conference Center after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Garcia highlighted the growth that the CTE programs have seen since the 2014-15 school year, from 602 students to 2,657.
“One thing. Every kid needs just one thing that gets them to school every day, and it creates the motivation they need to continue to move towards graduation and pick their college and career of their choice,” said Garcia. “I’m really excited about these numbers. A few years ago, you see they continue to grow, and as we add more CTE programs, we know they’ll continue to grow as well.”
Nine subjects are being added to the already 20 CTE options offered.
High-schoolers will soon be able to explore game programming, advanced manufacturing, and welding. Pathways for legal practices, law enforcement, manufacturing and production, and technologies of things are also in production.
At the middle school level, drone challenges and esports (which is already offered to high-schoolers) is being added.
Garcia congratulated Gauldin, Imperial, Lewis, Old River, and Rio San Gabriel schools for their recognition as Apple Distinguished schools. He added that three more schools – Gallatin, Unsworth, and Williams Elementary Schools – were also given the distinction just this week.
“When we talk about ‘globally competitive,’ what does that even look like? What does globally competitive look like, what does it mean?” said Garcia. “What it means is you have to measure yourself against a global scale, and that’s what we do in Downey Unified.”
The school District also participated in Apple Digital Learning Day, in which over 200 educators across 12 states and nine countries were granted a peek into some of the ways Downey has integrated technology into student learning.
Garcia expressed hope that all Downey schools would eventually earn the recognition.
“Our idea is to become the first Apple Distinguished School district in the entire world,” said Garcia.
On the construction at the middle schools, Garcia announced that Measure O projects are set to conclude at Stauffer Middle School next fall.
However, the District is hoping that voters will pass Measure K next month; a new $504 million bond measure earmarked primarily for modernization of the aging elementary schools.