On Friday, November 7, FMS held the first of four conversations about transforming our Career and Technical Center into a Regional Area Technical Center. This center would allow students to learn directly from industry experts and explore hands-on programs that lead to in-demand local jobs and competitive wages. These are jobs that already exist in our communities, and we want our students to be ready for them.
Representatives from Pesco, NTEC, Anchorum, NMPED, Navajo Nation, Northern Navajo Medical Center, Horace Motors, 4 Corners Clean Energy Alliance, Robbins, city and state government, FMS high schools, and our Career and Technical Education programs attended this first meeting. Their participation and ideas are helping us understand what skills today’s employers are looking for and how our programs can better prepare students for success.
“We view economic development as a way to invest in future generations, retain our residents here in Farmington, and continue strengthening our communities,” said Milo McMinn, Director of College and Career Readiness. “Thanks to the San Juan Basin Energy Conference, we’re gaining valuable insights into energy production and current industry trends. Their analysis of major employment centers was truly eye-opening, and as a school district, we must use this data to guide the programs we offer, making sure they benefit our students today and prepare them for success in a changing local economy.”
“At Farmington Municipal Schools, we’re doing a lot through our 19 pathways and programs, as well as our middle school CTE initiatives,” he continued. “But we also have an opportunity to take a closer look at our county and the jobs available today. There’s been a noticeable shift in both the types of jobs and the skills our workforce needs. That’s why policies like our cell phone initiative, the new financial literacy requirement, and offering OSHA 10 certifications in our welding, automotive, and construction trades programs—one of the top industry credentials across all employment sectors—are so important.”
Presenters from Pathways2Careers guided the discussion. They shared important information about the large number of students who do not go directly to college after graduation, the number of graduates who take jobs that do not require a college degree, and the current job openings available in our region. They also reviewed results from a survey sent to our business and industry partners. Many early discussions centered on the reading and language skills that employers expect, as well as the soft skills and workplace habits that make candidates successful.
This work is beginning at an important moment. The current CATE Center shares space with Preschool Academy West, but that will change once the preschool academies move into their new building. This will allow the CATE Center to expand and evolve into a space that better meets the needs of our students and the expectations of our local industries.
Farmington Municipal Schools (FMS) is beginning a year of planning that will bring our schools and our local businesses together to shape important new goals for our students. This planning year will help us create new programs and pathways that prepare students for the jobs and career fields that are growing in our region. Our goal is to provide every student who graduates from FMS with real choices and real opportunities, whether that means going to college or stepping directly into a high-quality career.
We want to recognize our Director of College and Career Readiness, Milo McMinn, along with the entire Career and Technical Education and Work-Based Learning team. Their vision to create learning experiences that truly prepare students for life after high school is inspiring. These programs ensure that when students ask, ‘Will I ever use what I learn in school?’ the answer is a confident ‘Yes.’ The skills they’re gaining will give them a strong foundation and a head start toward success after graduation.
We also want to thank our current and future business partners for supporting this effort and working with us to rethink how we educate our students. Career-connected learning and industry-guided programs will create pathways that lead to bright futures, and we are excited to continue this work together.
We would once again like to thank the voters for approving our General Obligation Bond. A portion of those funds will support our Career and Technical Education programs.