This fall the New Albany School of Career & Technical Education will celebrate 50 years of excellence in workforce development training.

In the late 1960s school officials from the New Albany School District (NASD) and the Union County School District joined together and began efforts to create a vocational center on the campus of W.P. Daniel High School.  The total cost of the project was over $400,000 with 80% of the funding coming from the Vocational Education Act and Appalachian Act Funds.  The local contribution of the NASD was 20%.  

The 1971-72 school year marked the opening of the then New Albany Vocational Center when classes began in September 1971. 

Under the leadership of Bob Carter, the first director of vocational education, the 37,000 square foot center opened to approximately 200 students.   Seven unique programs were offered during the inaugural year.  These programs included:  Distributive Education & Marketing; Home Economics; Automobile Mechanics; Office Occupations; Building Trades; Industrial Drafting; and, Industrial Electricity.

During the fifty years of service to the students of the New Albany and Union County School Districts and to our region, programming, staff, administration, and names have changed.  However, the goals of career and technical education remain the same:  to help train a qualified workforce for today’s competitive job market and to help students develop the skills they need to achieve their occupation goals. 

Today, the School of Career & Technical Education continues to offer career, vocational, and technology courses to prepare students for higher education and real work experiences. 

As CTE embarks on its 51st year of service to the community, thirteen programs are being offered to students during the 2022-2023 school year.  These programs include:  Agriculture & Environmental Science Technology; Auto Mechanics; Business, Marketing, & Finance; Construction; Culinary Arts; Digital Media; Drafting; Early Childhood; Engineering; Family & Consumer Sciences; Health Sciences; Computer Science & Engineering-STEM; and, Work Based Learning.  

April Hobson is serving as the current Director of CTE and the center has a record enrollment of more than 700 students this year.  

To celebrate 50 years of excellence in CTE, the staff has planned celebrations for Friday, September 30, 2022.   During the school day, CTE students will celebrate 50 years and learn more about the history of Career & Technical Education in New Albany and Union County.

From 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm on September 30, the staff will host a reception.  They request that all former staff members of the CTE since 1971, former CTE students, and community leaders join them for building tours, refreshments, and a time of fellowship.

Prior to kickoff of the home New Albany football game at Kitchens Field, join the CTE staff from 6:45 pm until kickoff at 7:30 pm to explore the opportunities available at the CTE Center.  Educational information, demonstrations, and giveaways will be provided.

2022-2023 CTE Staff