Career & Technical Education
SUSD offers a variety of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at our comprehensive high schools. CTE programs focus on technical and professional skills that prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce.
Pairing robust academics with technical skills is what gives students a competitive advantage in the post secondary and industry environment. Learn more about "Why CTE works".
What do CTE students offer Arizona? A lot! What is CTE really about? Giving students technical skills to find their place in the world of work. Whether students end up being self-employed, employing others, or working for an employer, skills will be needed to earn a living and be a contributor to society. The national association for CTE has the stats to prove how valuable CTE is to all of our students in Scottsdale, greater Arizona, and the entire U.S.
Take advantage of CTE programs in high school to learn a skill that could mean job placement tomorrow. Having a job while in college or any program after high school will mean less debt - maybe zero debt - to move forward in an apprenticeship or industry-sponsored program. Large employers are willing to train young individuals that need to start earning a livable wage right now. Checkout the always up-to-date Arizona Bureau of Labor stats on the number and types of jobs available in our great state.
Enroll in a CTE pathway by adding it to your course request form through your high school's registration process. CTE courses vary by site annually. Students have the opportunity to earn industry recognized certifications and dual enrollment credits through our CTE pathways. Additional CTE pathways are available through our partners at EVIT.
Career & Technical Education News
Chaparral High School’s CTE Culinary Arts program is serving up fresh inspiration for the upcoming school year! Chef Jack Trier recently represented SUSD at the AZ AG Institute Culinary Connections workshop, an immersive event designed to connect local agriculture directly to secondary culinary classrooms. Throughout the collaborative workshop, educators learned alongside leading industry experts from the University of Arizona, the Blue Watermelon Project, Blue Zones, and the Arizona Beef Council to discover how food travels from farm to plate.
As Arizona rapidly cements its position as the nation’s premier microelectronics hub, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) educators are stepping up to bring this high-tech frontier directly into local classrooms. One Saguaro High School Biotechnology/Science teacher, Liz Bond, along with one Arcadia High School Engineering and Coding teacher Shelley Alfieri-Brown, recently completed immersive, dual-focused professional development to bridge cutting-edge industry standards with high school CTE and STEM programs.
Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) families have a major reason to lay the groundwork for exciting new career opportunities! Saguaro High School is officially launching its brand-new Construction Management Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program. Designed for students in grades 9 through 12, this dynamic, hands-on pathway goes far beyond traditional classroom learning. Sabercats will roll up their sleeves to build essential technical skills in core trades—including carpentry, masonry, electrical, and plumbing—while mastering the high-level project management expertise required to lead modern jobsites.
Under the Arizona sky at Salt River Fields, stadium lights illuminated the future as the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) celebrated its Class of 2026. Among the graduates were 150 Scottsdale Unified School District seniors, recognized across three ceremonies held during the week of May 20.
Desert Mountain High School’s Graphic Design Internship Program recently hit the road with its first-ever vehicle wrap project, completed in partnership with the school’s maintenance department. Guided by advisor Bernie Fritts, student interns designed and installed a custom golf cart wrap inspired by the iconic Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine.
New Dual Enrollment for Law and Public Safety Program
SCC Dual Enrollment approved for Law and Public Safety Offering at Chaparral High School in Criminal Justice courses for 2025-2026.
Tarnisha Tilson, CTE faculty member for Law and Public Safety program, was recently approved as an adjunct SUSD/SCC instructor for the 2025-2026 school year. Students enrolled in her Criminal Justice classes will be allowed to opt-in and pay dual enrollment credits for the following titles:
- AJS101 – Introduction to Criminal Justice
- AJS109 – Substantive Criminal Law
- AJS275 – Criminal Investigations
- AJS240 – The Correction Function
See your school counselor for more information on this pathway or contact Ms.Tilson at Chaparral High School for details.
Contacts
Jayme Fitzpatrick
Director of College & Career Readiness
Anthony Vogel
Career and Technical Education TOA for Professional Development and Curriculum
Christopher Costantini
CTE IT Support Coordinator II
Krista Demetrulias
CTE Programs of Study Coordinator
Lisa Heimburg
Federal and State Grants Coordinator