CTE Blog

There’s a lot to celebrate at Campo Verde High School! The school has once again been recognized as a 2025-26 Project Lead The Way Distinguished School for its outstanding Biomedical Science program, marking the seventh consecutive year the program has earned this national honor.

This recognition highlights the school’s continued commitment to providing students with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that connect directly to future careers in the medical and scientific fields. From exploring human body systems and diseases to tackling real-world medical challenges, students in the Biomedical Science pathway gain valuable technical knowledge while building critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

The Distinguished School designation is awarded to a select group of high schools across the country that demonstrate strong student participation, achievement, and access within their PLTW programs. Schools must meet rigorous criteria related to course offerings, student enrollment, and continued engagement throughout the program.

PLTW is a national nonprofit organization focused on transforming learning through hands-on, career-connected education. Its programs are designed to help students build confidence and prepare for high-demand careers in fields like healthcare, engineering, and computer science.

Through the Biomedical Science program, students at Campo Verde have opportunities to engage in project-based learning that mirrors real healthcare scenarios and industry practices. The program helps students explore potential career paths while developing skills that will benefit them in college, careers, and beyond.

Gilbert Public Schools FFA members had amazing success at last week's regional Leadership Development Events (LDE) competition on Wednesday, April 29th!

Across the district, these students showed off their skills in public speaking, teamwork, and agricultural knowledge, earning top spots in these competitive events. 

Highland High School had an incredible showing, ranking first place in multiple events, such as Creed Speaking, Agriscience Fair, and Agricultural Education. Their Agricultural Issues Forum placed second overall and third place in Marketing Plan. On top of that, Highland students posted strong finishes in other events, such as Discussion Meet and Extemporaneous Speaking, demonstrating the program's hard work and dedication. 

Campo Verde High School also had great success, with a first-place win in Extemporaneous Speaking and a second-place finish in Marketing Plan. They also had a great showing in the Agricultural Information Contest, all earning strong placements and strong representation of the program. 

Gilbert High School had an amazing win with its Marketing Plan team, along with second-place finishes in Conduct of Meetings and Agricultural Communication. Every single Gilbert High competitor placed in the top ten individually, displaying their consistency and skills!

It was an amazing day for Gilbert Public Schools' FFA programs. These students are building leadership skills and real-world experience, all while having fun. Congratulations to all of the competitors and their advisors for representing GPS in such an amazing way!

Learn more about our CTE Agriscience and Engineering program.

Gilbert Public Schools brought the heat to the kitchen with its annual district-wide culinary “mystery basket” competition. This event, inspired by the creativity shows like Chopped, had students across the district step into a fast-paced, pressure-filled environment where innovation, teamwork, and skills were put to the test. 

This year’s mystery baskets featured fresh, locally sourced ingredients from Agritopia Farms, including red onion, romaine lettuce, rosemary, carrots, and beets. Not only did Agritopia donate the ingredients, but a farm representative also joined the judging panel, adding a farm-to-table authenticity. The teams were given just one minute to strategize, 45 seconds to gather any additional ingredients, and 45 minutes to prepare, cook, and plate a complete dish. 

Mesquite’s culinary team crafted a Korean-style pork dish with a chimichurri twist. Served over rice and lettuce, the disk incorporated blended elements from the mystery basket to build a flavorful marinade. Mesquite Senior, Shandiin Harrison, described the experience as “honestly amazing,” emphasizing the excitement of collaboration and the opportunity to see how other schools approach the same challenge. “We brought out Korean-inspired ideas, and they brought their own great ideas,” she said, highlighting the diversity of culinary perspectives across the district. 

Gilbert High School’s team presented a refined dish featuring pork stuffed with mozzarella, rosemary, parsley, and mint, then seared and finished in the oven. The meal was paired with lemon zucchini and a velouté, alongside a salad with pickled beets, goat cheese, and candied almonds, demonstrating both technical skill and thoughtful flavor pairing.  

Highland High School delivered a pork loin accompanied by a blended vegetable sauce made from zucchini, carrot, bell pepper, black peppercorn, and garlic. Their dish also included baguettes with olive oil and pesto, as well as a fresh vegetable mix dressed with vinaigrette. Desert Ridge High’s team plated up a sliced pork chop topped with a rich sauce, accompanied by beet-infused mashed potatoes and a fresh, lightly dressed salad. 

For these students, culinary arts go beyond competition because they represent a form of personal expression. Harrison shares that her mother’s experience in culinary school is a huge inspiration and that she views cooking as an art form that engages all senses. 

The competition not only showcased the technical abilities of Gilbert Public School’s student chefs but also highlighted the importance of creativity, cultural exploration, and community support in Career and Technical Education. With fresh ingredients, bold ideas, and a shared passion for food, these students proved that the future of culinary arts is already shining with talent.
 

Click here to learn more about Culinary at Gilbert Public Schools

The Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC) program at Gilbert High School has earned the highest possible rating of “Exceeds Standards” following its official Unit Assessment conducted on April 17.

The program received an outstanding score of 95.5, reflecting exceptional performance across all evaluated areas. According to Air Force officials, the unit demonstrated excellence in leadership, organization, and community involvement, with no discrepancies noted during the assessment.

The achievement highlights the leadership of Major (Ret.) Vicente G. Maldonado and Master Sergeant (Ret.) Elwin L. Longnion, whose mentorship has helped guide cadets to success. Evaluators specifically praised the unit’s strong cadet leadership, active participation, and commitment to service.

School and district leaders say the AFJROTC program continues to play a vital role in developing student leadership, character, and civic responsibility.

“This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of both instructors and cadets,” officials noted, emphasizing the program’s positive impact on the school and the broader Gilbert community.

Click here to learn more about AF JROTC at Gilbert Public Schools

Students from Desert Ridge High School’s engineering program recently put their skills to the test at the SkillsUSA Mobile Robotics competition on April 7th and delivered an impressive performance.

During the competition, students designed, built, and programmed robots to complete real-world challenges. In addition to the hands-on portion, they also participated in technical interviews, where they explained their design process and demonstrated their understanding of the engineering behind their work.

The event showcased a wide range of student skills, including coding, mechanical design, problem-solving, and teamwork, which are all essential in today’s engineering and robotics fields.

The success reflects the program’s focus on hands-on, project-based learning. “Desert Ridge Robotics uses project-based learning to prepare students for moments like this, where real-world skills, teamwork, and innovation lead to success in competition,” said Wendi Harden, DRHS Engineering teacher. 

Click here to learn more about Engineering at Gilbert Public Schools

Desert Ridge High School’s DECA chapter joined more than 2,000 students from across Arizona at the State Career Development Conference (SCDC) on February 26, held at the Arizona Grand Resort.

Over the course of three days, students competed in one of 65 business and marketing events, attended workshops, and connected with other DECA members from around the state, all to qualify for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in April.

Desert Ridge had a strong showing, with five students earning finalist spots: Kaycee Cambell (Principles of Hospitality and Tourism), Logan Graef (Principles of Business Administration), Kenneth Reyes (Human Resources Management), Marlie Wells (Hotel and Lodging Management), and Bailey Jackson (Retail Merchandising).

Two of those finalists, Marlie Wells and Bailey Jackson, will advance to the international level, representing Highland at ICDC from April 25–28.

The success reflects the continued growth of the program, which added 10 new members this year. Advisors shared that seeing students compete and succeed at such a large-scale event was a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

To learn more about Marketing at Gilbert Public Schools, click here. 

Gilbert High School’s Culinary Arts and FCCLA students took on a major challenge at the end of January, helping to cater breakfast for 300 advisors attending the Annual AASC Convention.

The three-day convention brought together more than 3,000 students and 300 advisors from across Arizona, and Gilbert High students played a key role behind the scenes. For Friday morning’s breakfast, the team prepared an impressive menu that included more than 300 muffins, 400 quiches, 200 parfaits, and fresh fruit salad.

What makes the accomplishment even more notable is that everything was created in Gilbert High’s original home-ec style kitchens, the oldest in the district, without access to commercial-grade equipment. Despite that, students worked together to pull off a large-scale catering event that typically only happens a couple of times each year.

Preparation for the event began weeks in advance, with Culinary II students testing recipes, scaling ingredients, and applying culinary math skills. During the week of the convention, students spent days producing quiches and baking muffins, while a team of 15 volunteers arrived as early as 6:00 a.m. on the day of the event to prep fruit and assemble parfaits. Other students managed the buffet line, providing professional service throughout the morning.

“I am forever grateful to the students who showed up outside of typical class hours to help wrap and label hundreds of quiches and store them properly in accordance with the FDA Food Code,” said Culinary Arts instructor Ms. Lawless. “Their dedication, professionalism, and attention to food safety made this event possible.”

The experience gave students a real-world look at what it takes to execute a large catering event, highlighting not only their culinary skills but also their teamwork, adaptability, and commitment.

“This experience represents everything our Culinary Arts program stands for: real-world learning, teamwork, and pride in doing meaningful work,” Lawless added. “Their willingness to step up and take ownership speaks volumes about the culture of our program.”

To learn about Culinary at Gilbert Public Schools, click here.

This past weekend, January 23rd-25th, Campo Verde FFA Agriscience and Engineering Program proudly represented Gilbert Public Schools at the Tempe Blooms Festival, a large-scale floral and art event in Downtown Tempe. With more than 90,000 attendees, the event transformed downtown with vibrant floral displays, where Campo Verde FFA’s installation was showcased, placing students' work at the heart of the celebration. Their display, themed “Rooted in Agriculture,” won the People’s Choice Award. 

Campo Verde FFA was selected as just one of two high schools invited statewide to compete alongside professional floral designers. Their “Rooted in Agriculture” display highlighted agriculture as a way of life that sustains communities, utilizing earth-toned colors to symbolize soil, resilience, and agricultural heritage. Their design honored the dedication of farmers and ranchers and their connection to land, labor, and livelihood. Entirely student-designed and fabricated, these concepts were brought to life with welding animal forms, fabricating the boot structure, and selecting the color palette, with students leading the creative and technical process from start to finish. 

Through public voting, Campo Verde FFA earned the People’s Choice Award, securing $500 for the chapter and highlighting strong community support. FFA Advisor Keili Summey reflected on the experience, saying, “Watching my students come together, work hard, learn new skills, and flex their creative muscles reminded me exactly why I do this. It wouldn't be possible without our amazing assistant Anissa McCleve, who is an incredible resource and always willing to go the extra mile to support our kids and this program. Seeing the public connect with their work and their agricultural roots was incredibly meaningful. This is ‘Learning by Doing’ at its finest.”

Campo Verde FFA’s participation in Tempe Blooms highlights the impact of Agriscience and Engineering as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, where students gain hands-on experience in design, construction, problem-solving, and teamwork while exploring real-world agricultural careers.

Learn more about our CTE Agriscience and Engineering program.

On Friday, November 14, students from Mesquite High School’s Agriscience and Cabinetmaking CTE programs toured Concord Contracting’s corporate office and an active job site. The visit introduced students to the wide range of careers available in the construction industry, including general contracting, project management, administration, accounting, marketing, and safety.

Through CTE, students gain hands-on training, industry-recognized certifications, and opportunities to earn college credit. The tour helped students see how these classroom experiences translate into real-world skills valued by employers. Concord representatives highlighted how each role contributes to a successful construction project, giving students a clearer understanding of potential career paths after high school.

Experiences like this strengthen Mesquite High School’s commitment to preparing students for both immediate entry into the workforce and continued education, while also connecting them to Arizona’s growing construction industry.

Learn more about our CTE Cabinetmaking program.

Highland High School’s culinary program earned second place in the Arizona Pork Council’s statewide “Taste What Pork Can Do” video contest, standing out among 20 selected culinary programs across Arizona. The contest challenges students to create a 3 to 4-minute video demonstrating pork’s versatility, nutritional benefits, affordability, and use in a wide range of recipes.

As the Runner-Up, Highland High received a prize package valued at $5,000, which includes:

• A classroom set of 30 Arizona Pork Council–branded student aprons
• 15 oven mitts
• 15 digital thermometers
• 15 meat tenderizers
• 15 cutting boards
• 15 meat claws
• 15 professional knife sets
• A grill for classroom use
• A $2,000 Food City/Basha’s gift card to support ongoing culinary instruction

The Runner-Up award also includes a visit from a Celebrity Chef, who will prepare a pork-based meal with up to 30 students—providing a hands-on culinary workshop and professional learning experience.

Highland’s video showcased pork’s adaptability in both everyday and elevated dishes while communicating its nutritional value and cost-effectiveness. Their strong creative approach and clear instructional presentation helped them earn recognition at the state level, reinforcing the real-world skills students develop through the culinary program.

Learn more about our CTE Culinary Arts program.

At Campo Verde High School, Biomedical Sciences (BioMed) seniors hosted a PLTW Showcase. What started as a teacher’s idea evolved into a fully student-led production, with seniors organizing exhibits, leading demonstrations, and sharing how the program has shaped their future.

These students have spent four years in hands-on BioMed coursework, and by senior year, they tackle capstone research projects that explore real-world medical challenges. Their deeper understanding of complex scientific research and the guidance they receive from industry mentors gives them confidence and clarity as they head toward college.

A student panel provided guests an opportunity to hear directly from seniors about how the BioMed program has influenced their goals. Beyond showcasing their work, the event also served as outreach, encouraging incoming freshmen to join the four-year program, regardless of which career path they ultimately choose. 

Campo Verde’s PLTW Showcase is a powerful example of how student leadership, rigorous STEM learning, and career-connected education can come together to build future-ready graduates.

Learn more about our CTE Bioscience program.

From October 16–19, 2025, cadets from Gilbert High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC unit traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for their annual visit to the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). During the trip, cadets learned about the academy’s admissions process, explored campus life, and toured key areas of the grounds.

A highlight of the visit was meeting former AZ-941 cadet and Highland High School graduate Aleena Francis, now a freshman at USAFA. She shared her experiences, offering valuable insight into life as a new cadet and inspiring many of the students on the trip.

Cadets also enjoyed attending both a USAFA hockey game and a football game, both of which were memorable experiences that added excitement to their educational visit. Though the 13-hour bus ride was long, every cadet agreed it was worth the journey. Many are already eager to participate again next year.

This annual AZ-941 tradition continues to give future Air Force leaders a firsthand look at academy opportunities and what it means to serve as a U.S. Air Force Airman.

Learn more about our CTE Air Force JROTC program.

Fifteen middle and high school girls gathered at Desert Ridge High School’s Engineering Lab in Mesa, Arizona, on Saturday, Oct. 16th, for the Girls Power STEM workshop, led by the school’s Engineering and Robotics program. Starting with bins of unassembled VEX IQ parts, the participants worked together to design, build, and program their own robots. With support from high school mentors, they created unique mechanisms, experimented with motors, and ultimately completed two functioning robots along with several creative prototypes.

Designed to inspire young women in STEM, the event encouraged hands-on learning, teamwork, and confidence-building. The workshop wrapped up with driving the high school team’s competition robot. The event sparked curiosity and enthusiasm for engineering and robotics.

Learn more about our CTE Engineering Sciences program.