Iredell-Statesville Schools Career & Technical Education Program Thrives
By Karissa Miller, Iredell Free News
The Iredell-Statesville Board of Education has approved the district’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Local Application plan for the 2026-2027 school year.
During a board meeting earlier this month, I-SS Superintendent Jeff James reaffirmed the CTE Department’s commitment to expanding career exploration opportunities and workforce development programs despite ongoing federal and state funding challenges.
The Local Application serves as both a planning document and funding application required under the federal law governing career and technical education programs called Perkins V.
“Our ultimate goal is for students to walk away truly employable and ready for postsecondary success. We’ve seen incredible growth — reaching as many as 5,700 industry credentials — yet we’ve faced cuts of positions …We aren’t letting these challenges stop us,” James said.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Civil Air Patrol for their new aeronautics program at Weathers Creek High School. We’ve already seen students earn their private pilot’s licenses before graduation. And at the end of the day, we are going to make it work. …We are not going to let a lack of resources stand in the way of a student’s ambition,” he added.
Career Development Coordinator Juli Tipton presented the 2026-2027 local application to the board. She highlighted significant accomplishments across middle and high school CTE programs while outlining priorities for the upcoming school year.
“The budget and position cuts are impacting CTE at the classroom level, especially with our net loss of eight teaching positions over the last five years,” Tipton told board members.
“In spite of that, CTE is continuing to grow. We continue to strengthen classroom instruction, provide hands-on experiences, and are building robust partnerships through Iredell Ready and Mitchell Community College to ensure our students are prepared for postsecondary success,” she added.
Tipton explained that there was a growing emphasis on career awareness beginning in middle school. Students now participate in district-wide career exploration events, including Careers on Wheels for sixth-graders, the new “In the Know!” experience for seventh-graders, and the “On the Move!” high school transition event for eighth-graders.
According to the Tipton, more than 300 parents attended the district’s eighth-grade parent information night this year.
Students are also gaining exposure to careers through virtual reality technology, including Oculus devices, zSpace technology and other career simulations that allow students to explore more than 50 career fields.