Career Catalysts: How CTE Programs Fuel the Dayton, OH, Talent Pipeline
In the Dayton region, career and technical education isn’t a backup plan; it’s a launchpad to well-paying, sustainable careers for students from all backgrounds.
By investing in hands-on and work-based learning opportunities, Dayton’s schools are equipping the next generation of workers with the technical expertise and adaptability needed to meet the demands of growing industries, such as advanced manufacturing, construction and healthcare.
For students and career changers exploring career and technical education in Dayton, OH, regional programs provide a direct bridge between secondary learning and high-paying local employment.
In This Article
Workforce Connector: Miami Valley Career Technology Center
The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) serves as a direct pipeline between education and the regional workforce, ensuring students and adult learners graduate with relevant, in-demand skills and enter the workforce.
“The center works with business and industry partners across the Miami Valley to align our programs with real workforce gaps,” says Nick Weldy, superintendent and CEO of the Miami Valley Career Technology Center.
“Whether it’s healthcare, advanced manufacturing, IT or skilled trades, we’re building talent pipelines that stay local and support regional economic growth,” Weldy says. “At the end of the day, we’re not just educating students; we’re helping sustain and grow the workforce that keeps this region competitive.”
The center’s training programs are designed with direct input from industry partners, so what students are learning reflects what’s happening in the workplace right now. Students gain hands-on experience using the same equipment, technology and processes they’ll encounter on the job, which helps create a successful and seamless transition from high school to the workplace.
Students can also take advantage of internships, apprenticeships and opportunities to earn industry certifications.
“We’re continuously evaluating how to integrate new technologies and expand opportunities, so students are prepared not just for today’s jobs, but for where the workforce is heading,” Weldy says.
Cooking Up Success: Greene County Career Center
The Greene County Career Center in Xenia offers high school students 21 career and technical programs of study, including cybersecurity, culinary arts, health sciences, advanced engineering, IT and aviation maintenance. The center works closely with industry advisers to keep abreast of regional workforce needs.
“A major goal of ours is to help local employers meet their needs in the workforce. The programs that we support were chosen based on a market analysis of workforce needs in the Dayton region and Miami Valley,” says Marissa Shaw, public information coordinator for the Greene County Career Center.
The career center also boasts an award-winning, student-led restaurant, The Greene Room. Students who complete the culinary arts program can earn certifications from the National Restaurant Association and qualify for scholarships to Clark State College and Sinclair Community College.
“Each one of our programs is built to prepare students for their careers. Culinary specifically gives students the opportunity to earn their ServSafe certification, which makes them competitive in the field and more prepared to walk into a professional kitchen and land a job,” Shaw says. “Working in this environment also encourages students to build upon their soft skills. This includes confidence, looking customers in the eye and ensuring that they’re going to provide the best possible service when working with the public.”
Built for Innovation: Butler Tech
One of the largest career tech systems in the state, Butler Tech in Fairfield Township, has built a national reputation for aligning its programs closely with workforce needs.
Healthcare demand continues to rise, particularly in patient care and nursing pathways. At the same time, advanced manufacturing and robotics are growing rapidly as companies invest in automation and need workers who can operate, maintain and troubleshoot complex systems. Aviation is also expanding, with increasing demand for certified pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians.
AJ Huff, public relations coordinator for Butler Tech, says students train in advanced environments designed to mirror the workplace, using industry-grade equipment and technology that aligns with what they will encounter in their careers.
This includes working with robotics, automation systems, CNC machinery, flight simulators, aircraft maintenance tools and healthcare simulation labs.
“Our facilities, including the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub, the Aviation Center and the Bioscience Center, are intentionally built to replicate real-world settings,” Huff says. “In many cases, the equipment and lab design are influenced directly by industry partners. The result is that students are not learning in a traditional classroom setting. They are working in environments that feel like the job from day one, which allows them to transition seamlessly into the workforce.”
– Teree Caruthers
Job One: Ford NGL Designation at Dayton Public Schools
Innovation and discovery are part of Dayton’s DNA, shaping how the region approaches business, technology and talent development. That same spirit is driving Dayton Public Schools (DPS) forward through its vital partnership with Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL), a nationally recognized framework for preparing students to succeed in a rapidly evolving economy.
DPS is one of only two school districts in Ohio to earn a Ford NGL designation, placing the region among a select network of communities focused on building future-ready talent pipelines.
“Through our partnership with Ford Next Generation Learning, Dayton Public Schools is building a direct bridge between the classroom and the careers that will shape our region’s future,” says Dr. David Lawrence, superintendent at Dayton Public Schools. “This initiative is helping students graduate not only with academic knowledge, but with the real-world skills employers are asking for.”
Ford NGL brings together education, industry and community leadership to create career-focused tracks aligned with real workforce needs. Through these programs, students explore career pathways, engage in hands-on learning and mentorship, and participate in work-based experiences that mirror today’s employer expectations.
This approach helps students build critical 21st-century skills, including technical expertise as well as essential professional competencies such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving.
“Through this work, we are also bringing our Portrait of a Graduate into classrooms,” Lawrence says. “We are confident this is how our region will strengthen our workforce – by ensuring our graduates are prepared, empowered and ready to contribute as soon as they graduate.”
– Claudine Bennett
Get to Know Dayton, OH
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