Opened at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, Trigg County High School’s newly-renovated Career Technical Education facility — courtesy of a $10 million state grant — already has the endearment of its students, staff and faculty.
But it doesn’t mean things can’t be enhanced or improved.
In a lengthy update and discussion with Trigg County’s Board of Education last Thursday, CTE Principal Erin Eagleson mention two short-term goals are going to be met in the next few months:
+ Increased training for students and staff on the building’s new equipment, like embroidery machines, laser cutters and 3-D printers;
+ And the use of said equipment for financial gain.
Even though CTE enrollment was higher in 2023-24 than this year, Eagleson noted that attendance hours are up by more than 400 this year, and 101 senior students have already earned some sort of industry certification.
Currently, Eagleson said dual credit opportunities exist down engineering, allied health and family/consumer science pathways, and 55 juniors have already taken end-of-pathway assessments.
More than 60% of CTE funding comes from attendance hours, while the other 40% comes from incentives corralled in four different areas, potentially totaling up to $2,000 per senior if all four areas are met.
Eagleson said those marks are charted schoolwide through a spreadsheet overseen by long-time engineering teacher Lori Hicks, and that right now, 75 students are co-oping — their weekly evaluations coming from work supervisors, and back to CTE teachers.
Junior Knott, a senior at TCHS, said he’s a completer in two pathways, already AutoCAD certified, and has finished pre-calculus and engineering courses.
Headed to Murray State University this fall, he’s also worked with the district’s laser engraver.
Having transferred in last year, Bella Faulkner is working to become a post-secondary teacher.
She is already CPR and first aid certified, and has noticed a major difference between last year’s, and this year’s, learning.
Eagleson also noted that a recent conversation with a parent of a former student in the district — now in Mississippi to obtain in-state tuition for a college there of his choice — reflected positively on Trigg County, and especially Ricks’ classes.
The district, Eagleson closed, is still looking to partner with more industry leaders in the region, in order to push growing pathway and co-op students in the right career direction.
And a desire also remains for there to be a potentially burgeoning co-op with Trigg County Hospital.
Eagleson said regional businesses, especially in Hopkinsville and Clarksville, would be welcomed for improved outreach.
