Buckeye Local Jr. High explores expansion of career-technical education

Buckeye Local Jr. High School is looking at ways to enhance career-technical education opportunities for its students by expanding on its current offerings.

Principal Andy Long addressed the Buckeye Local Board of Education during its regular session March 16 and said he had recently attended the Ohio Career-Technical Administrators Spring Conference in Dublin, which focused on CTE at the middle school level. Ohio legislators had previously passed a law requiring all school districts to provide career-tech classes for grades seven and eight, and it took effect in September 2025 with full implementation statewide during fiscal year 2027. During the conference, Ryan Curtis of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce led a presentation on “Building Foundations and Implementing High Quality Middle School CTE.”

“Our hope is for expanding it into the future,” Long said. “With CTE, there’s always been an emphasis at the high school and vocational schools. Now it’s being pushed down and starting at seventh grade.”

Long added that CTE keeps students engaged and that there are real-world applications that are beneficial. Officials said earlier exploration helps youth make better-informed pathway decisions, while workforce alignment supports the state’s economic development by building talent pipelines aligned to regional needs. In addition, it promotes foundational skills by building essential career-readiness competencies that serve students throughout their lives.

“The state wants students to get exposed more than ever. Starting next year, CTE will be mandatory for grades seven and eight,” he said. “We’ve always had career-tech at the middle school and high school levels, but it’s about expanding on what we have in place.”

State officials are seeking more career connections in grades seven through nine, with career exploration in grades seven through 10. Other programs include CTE pathway courses, work-based learning and industry-recognized credentials in grades nine through 12. Additionally, grades seven through 12 would focus on career-based intervention, grades 11 and 12 would participate in Ohio Technical Center programs, and seniors would work for industry credentials.

Currently, Buckeye Local offers an interactive media pathway with instruction on web design, programming, design techniques and 3D design, and Long noted that he was impressed with how students have mastered the course, saying there has been great interest with the advent of games and apps. The performing arts pathway is also available, and students take part in an arts and communication primer, a performing arts primer, stage design and construction and stagecraft.

Long said the recently implemented YouScience program also tied into the career-based instruction component by providing aptitude and interest testing to determine students’ potential fields, as well as career exploration, resume building and a course pathway builder. This year, sixth-grade classes completed the program, while grades seven and eight will take part in YouScience during the 2026-27 term.

“Ohio’s talent gap goes back to why CTE matters,” he said. “A lot of businesses are moving into Ohio and industry believes in Ohio. They believe in our students and we should get them ready.”

According to statistics, about 75% job growth was expected over a 10-year period between 2018 and 2028 through the development of facilities such as Intel and Honda. Long continued that many pupils tend to enter “legacy careers” by following family members into similar trades, but YouScience and CTE try to help kids expand into other career paths. With Ohio ranking third in advanced manufacturing, he said it was crucial to help students develop the skills necessary so they can move into the workforce.

“There’s a gap between what the state needs and what we can supply them.”

Future plans are to capitalize on opportunities through agribusiness and production systems, and the evolution of the school’s agricultural education program will play a key role in that endeavor. Students would learn about horticulture and animal research to marketing and product development, and the recent Grow Ohio Grant is creating a foundation for agriculture education.

“[Ag education teacher] Cameron Best will be full-time, which is why we are expanding plans. The hydroponics towers were added and Mr. Best has been doing more work with [science teacher Julianne] Kuchan to get the students involved, and we will use the produce for the lunchroom and culinary arts,” he said, adding that students also utilize the new greenhouse for fruits and vegetables and Panther Farm to raise chickens for egg production.

Additionally, hopes are to get more junior high students involved in the culinary arts program so they can build more interest at the high school level. Students can learn about career connections, hospitality, baking and pastry, and making contemporary cuisine. Long said he has also spoken to Superintendent Coy Sudvary and Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Superintendent Ted Gorman about offering robotics at the junior high through a satellite pathway, meaning the JVS would own the program and use the BLJHS building. Coursework includes pre-engineering techniques, engineering logic, robotics and aerospace engineering.