CTE News

What does the future look like? For hundreds of Scottsdale students, there wasn’t just one answer.

On September 26, the Scottsdale Civic Center Library became a place to explore the possibilities. Students and families moved from table to table, asking questions, gathering ideas and discovering paths they may not have considered before SUSD’s 2026 College & Career Fair.

Presented by Scottsdale Unified School District, Scottsdale Public Library and Scottsdale Career Services, the event brought more than 130 exhibitors together in one place. Students could explore universities and community colleges, skilled trades, career training, military service, SUSD’s Career and Technical Education programs and opportunities with local employers such as Banner Health, the City of Scottsdale and Rumco Construction.

For some students, the day was about imagining what comes next. For others, it was about finding the information to take their next step. Workshops on financial aid, FAFSA and college admissions gave families practical tools, while community organizations provided additional resources for employment and career exploration.

The real takeaway? There is no single path to a successful future. The College & Career Fair gave students the chance to see just how many paths are waiting, and to start finding the one that feels right for them.

Brewing Up Success: Chaparral Culinary Arts Launches Chappuccino!

The Chaparral High School Culinary Arts program is giving its student-run café a fresh new identity! Say hello to Chapuccino, a vibrant, re-branded space where culinary craftsmanship meets hands-on hospitality.

Serving SUSD employees, private school functions, and special community events, Chapuccino is quickly becoming a campus favorite. It has even earned a stamp of approval from the campus’s beloved four-legged staff member Rocket (pictured)!

At the heart of Chapuccino is a menu starring specialty coffees, freshly brewed teas, and fresh pastries. As students sharpen their techniques and expand their culinary repertoire throughout the school year, customers can look forward to an ever-evolving selection of seasonal delights and signature creations.

Powered by Industry Partners

The program’s success is backed by strong relationships with leading business, education, and hospitality organizations. Key partners supporting Chaparral’s young chefs include:

• Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) and ServSafe, ensuring industry-standard safety and career development
• Scottsdale Community College offering dual enrollment and on-site visits/instruction
• Camelback Marriott and Gainey Ranch Hyatt, offering real-world perspective and industry connections

Fast-Track Your Culinary Journey

Designed for high schoolers ready to dive deep into gastronomy and food service, the Culinary Arts program operates as an intensive two-hour block course. Best of all, students from any SUSD high school can complete the full program in just one year, equipping them with essential certifications, practical kitchen management skills, and immediate career pathways.

Ready to see what’s cooking or support our student chefs? Learn more here.

Designing the Future: SUSD Middle Schoolers Get Hands-On with High-Tech CTE!

Middle school in Scottsdale Unified School District is getting a serious upgrade, giving 6th through 8th graders an early taste of real-world career success! Offered across multiple campuses including Mountainside Middle School, Ingleside Middle School, Cheyenne Traditional School, and many more, the dynamic Design My Future course is empowering young minds to explore their passions through interactive, project-based learning. By blending essential digital literacy, coding syntax on platforms like Skillstruck, personal finance simulations through Personal Finance Lab, and early career exploration via SchooLinks, students aren't just thinking about tomorrow, they are actively building it.

The excitement reached a whole new level at Mountainside Middle School with the public grand premiere of its brand-new I.D.E.A.S. Center (Innovation, Design, Engineering, Arts, and Service). Designed to serve as a state-of-the-art hub for the Desert Mountain Learning Community, this cutting-edge space provides teachers and students with dedicated makerspaces, engineering classrooms, and collaborative meeting areas. During the September 18 celebration, guests got a firsthand look at live equipment demonstrations, networked over refreshments, and met with student representatives from Robotics and Science Olympiad who are already putting the facility’s STEM resources to work.

Whether students are diving into drones, 3D printing product designs, laser engraving, computer-aided architectural drafting (CAD), or even crafting sustainable fashion, Design My Future adapts to spark every child's unique interests. By combining rigorous career-cluster exploration with high-tech, creative maker spaces like MMS’s new I.D.E.A.S. Center, SUSD is helping students build the confidence, technical skills, and financial savvy needed to hit the ground running in high school and beyond!

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The Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is celebrating the impressive cohort of high school seniors currently gaining real-world experience, building professional networks, and applying classroom knowledge in local workplaces through the 2026-2027 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Internship Program. These dedicated seniors are putting their skills to work across diverse industries, proving the power of hands-on technical learning.

SUSD is proud to collaborate with an exceptional network of community partners including Scottsdale Plastic Surgeons, Groundwork Renewables, Jostens, Diversity Insurance, Skillstruck, HonorHealth, and many others. The professional mentorship provided by these industry leaders offers our students an invaluable competitive advantage, equipping them with real-world expertise, confidence, and career readiness as they embark on their post-secondary journeys. 

Current high school juniors ready to follow in their footsteps can begin to prepare for the 2027-2028 academic year. Students enrolled in Level II of a CTE program or who will have completed a CTE pathway are eligible to apply. More information can be obtained through the school guidance counselor. 

Local business leaders and community organizations interested in hosting student talent or learning more about the application process can contact SUSD Internship Coordinator Tarnisha Tilson at ttilson@susd.org.

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Students and families across the Valley are invited to explore a wide range of future post-secondary pathways at the annual College & Career Fair, presented in partnership by the Scottsdale Public Library, Scottsdale Career Services, and the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD).

The free event takes place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, located at 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Whether attendees are planning for a traditional four-year university, exploring trade certificates, or starting to map out entry-level job options, the event offers guidance for every path:

• College Admissions: Connect directly with local and nationwide college recruiters to learn about admissions requirements, degree programs, campus life, and application timelines.
• Skilled Trades: Discover hands-on technical training and apprenticeship opportunities through featured skilled trade programs.
• Teen Employment & Career Services: Meet with Scottsdale Career Services to explore local opportunities and learn more about the Scottsdale Teen Employment Program.
• Expert Advising: Receive personalized guidance from advisors at the library’s College and Career Corner. 

Students planning to attend are encouraged to register ahead of time through SchooLinks. By registering via SchooLinks, students can access real-time event updates and view the full list of attending higher-education institutions and industry exhibitors. Registration is recommended, but not required. 

Event Details at a Glance:

• Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
• Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Location: Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ
• Cost: Free and open to all students and families
• Student Registration Portal: SchooLinks Event Registration

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The Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Career and Technical Education (CTE) team and campus administrators are celebrating two of their exemplary teacher leaders, Shelley Alfieri-Brown and Tarnisha Tilson, following their selection to the prestigious Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona (ACTEAZ) Fellows Program.

Both district leadership and campus administrators expressed immense pride in these educators as they represent SUSD on a statewide stage, embodying dedication to CTE excellence and student success.

Shelley Alfieri-Brown of Arcadia High School joins the newly announced 2026–2028 ACTEAZ Fellows cohort. As a first-year fellow, Alfieri-Brown embarks on a two-year journey alongside ten other newly selected CTE professionals from across Arizona.

During her fellowship, she will participate in critical dialogues around the pressing challenges facing career and technical education, learn from prominent thought leaders, and hone her unique leadership capabilities to advocate for high-quality CTE programs.

Tarnisha Tilson of Chaparral High School returns to the program as a second-year fellow in the 2025–2027 cohort. Having already completed her inaugural year of leadership development, Tilson continues to strengthen her professional network, champion local educational initiatives, and elevate CTE programs within the district and beyond.

Led by Fellows Coordinator Paige Quinn, the ACTEAZ Fellows Program empowers passionate CTE educators to drive meaningful change. Throughout the program, fellows engage in collaborative projects designed to address key issues impacting career and technical education statewide. In addition to developing grassroots solutions, fellows support major initiatives such as the annual Midwinter Auction and work directly to expand educational and workforce opportunities for Arizona students.

Through the achievements of Alfieri-Brown and Tilson, SUSD continues to showcase its commitment to innovative teaching, continuous professional growth, and strong advocacy for career and technical pathways.

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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.

The professional development was as delicious as it was educational! Chef Trier and fellow participants jumped into the kitchen to prepare fresh, farm-forward ingredients, culminating in the creation of a stunning sample 5-course meal that showcased local agriculture at its finest. From precision knife work to elevated plating techniques, the interactive cooking session highlighted creative, hands-on ways to incorporate farm-fresh concepts and nutrition science into high school culinary labs.

Chef Trier returned to Chaparral with ready-to-use classroom resources and innovative initiatives for Chaparral students. Culinary Firebirds can look forward to engaging new learning opportunities supported by programs like the Feeding the Future project and the Arizona Beef Council grant program. These partnerships will bring new culinary grants, funding for ingredients, and real-world agricultural perspectives right to the Chaparral kitchen—equipping the next generation of chefs with the skills, sustainability insights, and industry connections needed to excel in the Culinary Arts pathway.

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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.

Through the SparkEd workshop, teachers developed a tailored "toolbox" packed with hands-on activities, career alignment strategies, and creative approaches to demystify microchip manufacturing for students. SUSD educators also participated in "Explore the Future of Tech, from Classroom to Cleanroom", a two-day teacher externship held at West-MEC in Glendale. There, teachers engaged in hands-on cleanroom lab rotations, wafer processing, lithography, microchip packaging simulations with industry partners like Amkor, and virtual reality training designed to spark student interest in STEM fields.

By pairing rigorous technical training in manufacturing with interactive teaching methods, SUSD faculty are actively collaborating to integrate semiconductor manufacturing, ensuring Scottsdale graduates are first in line for top-tier post-secondary programs, apprenticeships, and high-paying careers in Arizona's booming tech economy.

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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.

One of the program's biggest advantages is its impressive roster of industry partners, helping bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce. Saguaro has teamed up with organizations like the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), Chasse Building Team, DeWalt, Center for the Future of Arizona, and Move Over Bob, alongside many other regional leaders. Through these partnerships, students gain direct access to industry-recognized certifications, mentorships, and cutting-edge equipment. Whether a student’s goal is to jump straight into high-paying entry-level employment, secure an apprenticeship, launch their own entrepreneurship venture, or fast-track into post-secondary Construction Management and Engineering degree programs, this pathway equips them with the technical and professional skills needed to thrive on day one.

The launch couldn't come at a better time for Valley families looking toward high-demand, future-proof careers. Metro Phoenix is undergoing an incredible development boom—growing into a $25 billion industry—and Maricopa County leads the state in regional job creation. With Arizona projected to need tens of thousands of skilled construction professionals, project engineers, and superintendents over the next several years, Saguaro CTE graduates will be stepping into one of the hottest job markets in the nation. SUSD families ready to give their high schoolers a competitive edge can connect with their school guidance counselors today to explore enrollment in this exciting new program!

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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.

Walking alongside their East Valley peers, these students carried more than diplomas across the stage, they carried certifications, hands-on experience, and the confidence that comes from already preparing for careers in high-demand industries. They leave high school not only college ready, but career ready.

The applause from family and friends reflected the incredible range of talent represented within this graduating class. Throughout their high school years, SUSD students dedicated themselves to mastering technical and professional skills that will serve them well in the workforce and beyond. Their training spanned industries including welding, electrical and construction trades, aviation maintenance, nursing, medical assisting, cosmetology, barbering, aesthetics, culinary arts, and firefighting.

Each graduate crossed the stage with industry-recognized credentials and real-world experience already in hand, an achievement that speaks to their commitment, determination, and readiness to lead in the next chapter of their lives.

Whether entering the workforce, continuing their education, or pursuing advanced certifications, the EVIT Class of 2026 represents the strength of career and technical education and the bright future of SUSD students.

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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.

Students led every phase of the creative process, from initial concept development and digital illustration in Adobe Illustrator to print production using the program’s Roland BN2-30 printer/cutter and professional vinyl wrap materials. Once the graphics were produced, interns collaborated to carefully install the wrap on the vehicle, gaining hands-on experience in large-format graphics, branding, and real-world production workflows.

The project provided students with the opportunity to apply industry-standard design and production techniques while working on a functional branding piece for the maintenance department. As the program’s first vehicle wrap, the project marked an exciting milestone and highlighted the expanding capabilities of Desert Mountain’s graphic design and print program.

Experiences like this help prepare students for future careers in graphic design, print production, branding, and visual communications by blending creativity, technical skills, and real-world application in a professional-style environment.

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Scottsdale’s competitive spirit was on full display last week as Chaparral High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter made a strong impact at the State Leadership Conference in Tucson. Competing against the top business students in Arizona, the Firebirds demonstrated that Chaparral is a true force in entrepreneurial thinking and financial expertise.

Under the guidance of advisor Dave White, the FBLA program continues to be more than a competition team, it is a training ground for future CEOs, innovators, and financial leaders. Students engage in rigorous preparation and real-world application, building the skills needed to succeed in today’s global economy.

That preparation paid off in Tucson, where Chaparral students delivered standout performances across multiple events:

• 1st Place – Entrepreneurship
  Katelyn and Cyrus
  A top finish that showcases bold thinking, innovation, and the ability to turn ideas into action. 
• 3rd Place – Banking & Financial Systems
  Erin and Katelyn
  Demonstrating precision, analysis, and a deep understanding of complex financial systems. 

These achievements reflect both student dedication and the continued leadership of Dave White, whose commitment to the program provides students with meaningful opportunities to grow, compete, and lead.

At Chaparral, FBLA is not just about awards, it is about building confidence, developing real-world skills, and preparing students to step into their futures ready to make an impact.

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At Saguaro High School, the Healthcare Assistant CTE program is far more than a typical elective, it is a rigorous, hands-on pathway into the world of healthcare. Led by Victoria Pacheco, RN, and Marcy Cameron, RN, the program gives students real-world experience and a strong foundation for future careers in medicine.

From day one, students are immersed in meaningful learning that mirrors the expectations of the healthcare field. Through dual enrollment opportunities, they can earn college credit while still in high school, gaining a head start on their postsecondary education. Many also work toward Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, graduating with a professional credential in hand.

Just as importantly, the program opens doors to a wide range of healthcare careers, from nursing to medicine to specialized patient care, helping students discover their interests while building practical skills.

That preparation was recently showcased as Saguaro’s HOSA Nursing students competed against some of the top programs in the state. Demonstrating technical precision, confidence, and calm under pressure, students showed just how far their training has taken them.

We are thrilled to celebrate the following achievements:

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When Tarnisha Tilson stepped into her role at Chaparral High School, she set out to do more than teach, she set out to build something meaningful for students.

This spring, that impact was nationally recognized.

Tilson has been named the 2026 ACTE Arizona New CTE Teacher of the Year, an honor presented by the Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona (ACTEAZ). The award celebrates outstanding educators early in their CTE career, who are already transforming classrooms across the state.

For Tilson, the recognition reflects a rapid and intentional journey. In less than three years, she has built a thriving Law & Public Safety program grounded in real-world learning, student engagement, and high expectations. What started as a new classroom has quickly become a space where students actively connect coursework to future careers and develop skills they can carry far beyond high school.

Her classroom has grown into a model of what Career and Technical Education can look like when students are trusted with meaningful work and challenged to rise to it.

That growth has not gone unnoticed.

Tilson will be formally recognized this July at the ACTEAZ Summer Connections Conference in Tucson, where educators from across Arizona gather to celebrate excellence in CTE. However, her journey doesn’t stop there.

As Arizona’s winner, she will go on to represent the state at the Region V Competition in Spring 2027, where she will compete alongside top new CTE educators from 16 western states and territories for regional and national honors.

For Chaparral High School, and Scottsdale Unified School District, Tilson’s recognition reflects the powerful teaching and learning happening every day in classrooms across the district. It is also a reminder of the impact one educator can have when passion meets purpose.

From a new teacher shaping her program to a state-recognized leader in CTE, Tarnisha Tilson’s story is still unfolding—but it is already one of growth, momentum, and lasting impact.

Congratulations to Ms. Tilson on this well-deserved honor! 

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