CTE Blog
Welcome to the Gilbert Public Schools CTE Blog! This is a space dedicated to celebrating the incredible work happening across our Career and Technical Education programs. GPS CTE empowers students to explore their passions, develop real-world skills, and prepare for meaningful careers. Through this blog, we highlight the innovation in our classrooms, showcase student achievements, share program updates and events, and recognize the partnerships that help our pathways thrive. Join us as we spotlight the accomplishments, stories, and experiences that make CTE such a powerful part of student success.
CTE Stories
MHS Fabrication and Cabinetmaking Students Toured Concord Contracting, Learning More About Their Future Opportunities
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.
HHS Culinary Students Earn Second Place in Statewide AZ Pork Council Contest
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.
CVHS Biomed Displays Skills at the Project Lead the Way Showcase
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.
GHS AF JROTC Travels to Colorado: U.S. Air Force Academy Trip
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.
DRHS Engineering Hosts Girls Power Event
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.