More Than a Diploma: Why Career Technical Education is Personal to Me
More Than a Diploma: Why Career Technical Education is Personal to Me
February 1, 2026
More Than a Diploma: Why Career Technical Education is Personal to Me
In my career in higher education, I have the privilege of seeing the "end result" of our K-12 system every day. I see the students who arrive on campus with a clear sense of purpose, and I see those who are still searching for their "why."
Through this lens, I’ve realized something critical: The path to a successful life isn't a single lane; it’s a multilane-highway that requires investment and community support.
That’s why Career Technical Education (CTE) is a cornerstone of my campaign for the Murrieta School Board. It isn’t just about "job training", it’s about providing the hands-on, high-value experiences that allow students to discover their potential before they even cross the graduation stage.
Bridging the Gap: From Classroom to Career
In higher ed, I see a direct parallel between early hands-on experience and future success. When a student in Murrieta has the opportunity to engage with a CTE program, whether it’s Biomedical Science, Engineering, or Digital Media, they aren't just reading a textbook. They are solving real-world problems. Vista Murrieta’s Bronco News Network is a wonderful example of students developing valuable skills that can be applied to future careers or educational opportunities.
This exposure does two vital things:
It Lights a Fire for Higher Education: For many, CTE is the spark that leads to college. It gives academic subjects like math and science a practical context, showing students why a degree in a specific field is worth the pursuit.
It Creates a Direct Pipeline to the Workforce: For other students, the goal is to enter the workforce immediately. By providing industry-standard certifications and technical mastery in high school, we ensure these graduates aren't just looking for a job, they are beginning a career with a livable wage and a specialized skill set.
Our Responsibility: Providing Options, Not Just Instructions
I believe our job isn't to tell students which path to take. Our job is to build the best possible roads.
We need to ensure that when a student leaves a Murrieta high school, they aren't just handed a diploma; they are handed a toolkit. Whether that toolkit is used in a university lecture hall or on a professional job site is up to them, but it’s our responsibility to make sure it’s full of the right tools.
How We Build This Together
A robust CTE program is a community effort. To truly give our students the edge, we need to:
Strengthen Industry Partnerships: I want to leverage my experience in building partnerships in education to bridge the gap between our local businesses and our classrooms.
Invest in Modern Facilities: Our students should be learning on the equipment they will actually use in the 21st-century economy. During my time working for the Bourns College of Engineering at UCR, I helped bring in resources for makerspaces. I’d like to utilize this experience for our Murrieta schools.
Mentor and Guide: We need to support our counselors and teachers in showing students that "success" comes in many forms, all of which are valuable, and to invite members of our community to be “industry mentors”.
In my daily work, I see the potential of the next generation. In Murrieta, I want to make sure we are doing everything in our power to turn that potential into reality, one hands-on experience at a time.
More Than a Diploma: Why Career Technical Education is Personal to Me
In my career in higher education, I have the privilege of seeing the "end result" of our K-12 system every day. I see the students who arrive on campus with a clear sense of purpose, and I see those who are still searching for their "why."
Through this lens, I’ve realized something critical: The path to a successful life isn't a single lane; it’s a multilane-highway that requires investment and community support.
That’s why Career Technical Education (CTE) is a cornerstone of my campaign for the Murrieta School Board. It isn’t just about "job training", it’s about providing the hands-on, high-value experiences that allow students to discover their potential before they even cross the graduation stage.
Bridging the Gap: From Classroom to Career
In higher ed, I see a direct parallel between early hands-on experience and future success. When a student in Murrieta has the opportunity to engage with a CTE program, whether it’s Biomedical Science, Engineering, or Digital Media, they aren't just reading a textbook. They are solving real-world problems. Vista Murrieta’s Bronco News Network is a wonderful example of students developing valuable skills that can be applied to future careers or educational opportunities.
This exposure does two vital things:
It Lights a Fire for Higher Education: For many, CTE is the spark that leads to college. It gives academic subjects like math and science a practical context, showing students why a degree in a specific field is worth the pursuit.
It Creates a Direct Pipeline to the Workforce: For other students, the goal is to enter the workforce immediately. By providing industry-standard certifications and technical mastery in high school, we ensure these graduates aren't just looking for a job, they are beginning a career with a livable wage and a specialized skill set.
Our Responsibility: Providing Options, Not Just Instructions
I believe our job isn't to tell students which path to take. Our job is to build the best possible roads.
We need to ensure that when a student leaves a Murrieta high school, they aren't just handed a diploma; they are handed a toolkit. Whether that toolkit is used in a university lecture hall or on a professional job site is up to them, but it’s our responsibility to make sure it’s full of the right tools.
How We Build This Together
A robust CTE program is a community effort. To truly give our students the edge, we need to:
Strengthen Industry Partnerships: I want to leverage my experience in building partnerships in education to bridge the gap between our local businesses and our classrooms.
Invest in Modern Facilities: Our students should be learning on the equipment they will actually use in the 21st-century economy. During my time working for the Bourns College of Engineering at UCR, I helped bring in resources for makerspaces. I’d like to utilize this experience for our Murrieta schools.
Mentor and Guide: We need to support our counselors and teachers in showing students that "success" comes in many forms, all of which are valuable, and to invite members of our community to be “industry mentors”.
In my daily work, I see the potential of the next generation. In Murrieta, I want to make sure we are doing everything in our power to turn that potential into reality, one hands-on experience at a time.
Paid for by Elliot Emmer
© Elliot Emmer
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Paid for by Elliot Emmer
© Elliot Emmer
Donate
Contact Me