Career Technical Education Pathways

A Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway is a sequence of two or more CTE courses within a student’s area of career interest. The sequencing usually consists of a Level 1 course (introductory), a Level 2 course (concentrator), and a Level 3 course (capstone). Knowledge and skills are practiced, honed, and deepened throughout the course of a pathway. Exposure to industry and work-based learning opportunities increase as students progress. Pathways provide students opportunities to explore and prepare for careers while in high school. Students leave a pathway with industry certifications, alignment or connections to colleges, and sometimes even with college credit.

All CTE courses in our pathways support the Common Core and CTE Model Curriculum Standards. Learning rigorous academic skills, especially in English Language Arts and Mathematics, are an integral part of each CTE course outline and competencies. These skills help our students put English Language Arts and Mathematics to work in a real-world, hands-on environment they can relate to. The CTE Standards were created with assistance from more than 300 representatives from business, industry, postsecondary, and secondary education and reviewed by nearly 1000 members of the general public. These standards are rigorous, evidence-based, relevant, and reasonable in scope: CTE Model Curriculum Standards

In addition to pathway standards, there are 11 Anchor Standards that are common across all CTE industry sectors. They are built on Career Ready Practices, and are aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

CTE Knowledge and Performance Anchor Standards

01. Academics
02. Communications
03. Career Planning and Management
04. Technology
05. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
06. Health and Safety
07. Responsibility and Flexibility
08. Ethics and Legal Responsibilities
09. Leadership and Teamwork
10. Technical Knowledge and Skills
11. Demonstration and Application

Dual Enrollment allows 10th, 11th and 12th grade students/15 years or older, who are still in high school to take college-level courses, earn early college credit, and accelerate their educational achievement totally free of charge. Dually enrolled students earn early college credit towards high school graduation, while at the same time earning college credits. Many Dual Enrollment courses are offered on the high school campus.

There are three ways students can be dually enrolled and earn early college credit at Napa Valley College. See the Dual Enrollment Handbook for more information:

American Canyon Culinary Students

American Canyon High CTE video
See Course Outlines on our Resources Page

Business | Instructor: Anna Eshoo

Level 1: Business (UC ‘g’ elective credit & dual credit at NVC: BUSI 100)
Level 2: Business & Entrepreneurship (UC ‘g’ elective credit & dual credit at NVC: BUSI 144)
This Business Management pathway assists students in obtaining the skills and resources for effective career, educational, and life planning. The second level course includes completion of an internship.
Level 1 Promo Video
Level 2 Promo Video

Culinary Arts & Hospitality | Instructor: Allen Calhoun

Level 1: Culinary Arts (UC ‘g’ elective credit & dual credit at NVC: HCTM 100)
Level 2: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management (UC ‘g’ elective & dual credit at NVC: HCTM 120)
In this pathway students learn cooking skills and techniques, and discover how to create meals within Napa County’s food growing seasons. Students gain in-depth, hands-on experiences that emphasize industry awareness, sanitation and safe food handling, food and beverage production, nutrition, and customer service.
Certifications: Food Handlers
Pathway Promo Video

Education | Instructor: Anna Eshoo

Level 1: Careers in Education (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
NEW in 2023-24, Level 2: Advanced Careers in Education (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
The Education pathway emphasizes the preparation of students to become teachers.
Pathway Promo Video

Sports Medicine | Instructor: Michelle Davis

Level 1: Sports Medicine 1 (UC biology ‘d’ lab credit)
Level 2: Sports Medicine 2 (UC ‘g’ elective credit)

This pathway involves the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions. Training includes sports medicine, anatomy and physiology, athletic injuries and their evaluation, rehabilitation, Kinesiology, the athletic injury cycle, prevention of athletic injury, nutrition, pharmacology, and Athletic Training Room procedures.
Certifications: First Aid; Adult, Child, and Infant CPR & AED
Pathway Promo Video

Sustainable Construction | Instructor: Aaron Johnson

Level 1: Construction Technology I (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Level 2: Construction Technology II (UC ‘g’ elective credit & articulates to DVC: CONST135)
Provides learning opportunities for careers in construction and building design, performance, sustainability, millwork, furniture making, and more.
Certifications: NCCER
Pathway Promo Video

Calistoga Junior/Senior High School Construction Course

See Course Outlines on our Resources Page

Alternative Energy | Instructor: Heather Brooks

Level 1: Physics of Alternative Energy (UC physics ‘d’ lab credit)
Level 2: Chemistry of Alternative Energy (UC chemistry ‘d’ lab credit)
Student Affiliation: Engineering Club
Pathway Promo Video

Biotechnology | Instructor: Maggie Swarner

Level 1: Biology for Biotechnology (UC biology ‘d’ lab credit)
Level 2: ★Biotechnology (H) (UC Honors biology ‘d’ lab credit & articulates to SCC: BIOT 160)
Certifications: CPR; Bloodborne Pathogens
Pathway Promo Video

Cabinetry, Millwork, and Woodworking | Instructor: Erik Parry

Level 1: Woodworking I (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Level 2: Cabinetmaking
Certifications: OSHA

Culinary Arts & Hospitality | Instructor: Rosa Rubio

Level 1: Culinary Arts (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Level 2: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Certifications: Food Handlers

Camille Creek Student Welding

See Course Outlines on our Resources Page

Welding | Instructor: Gerid Eastham

Level 1: Welding
Level 2: Advanced Welding
This pathway provides students with an understanding of manufacturing processes and systems common to careers in welding and related industries. The pathway standards are based on, but not limited to, well established American Welding Society (AWS) EG2.0 Guidelines for the Entry Level Welder.

Culinary Arts & Hospitality | Instructor: Micheal Mocling

Level 1: Culinary Arts
Level 2: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management
In this pathway students learn cooking skills and techniques, and discover how to create meals within Napa County’s food growing seasons. Students gain in-depth, hands-on experiences that emphasize industry awareness, sanitation and safe food handling, food and beverage production, nutrition, and customer service.

Napa High Engineering Students

Napa High CTE video
See Course Outlines on our Resources Page

Engineering & Robotics | Instructor: Patrick Bynum

Level 1: Principles of Engineering – Robotics (UC ‘g’ elective credit & articulates to NVC: DDGT 120)
Level 2: Engineering and Architectural Design (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
Students are introduced to the foundational principles of engineering, computer-aided design, 3-D printing, and robotics. The second level will include the design and building of robots for competitions.
Pathway Promo Video

Manufacturing & Product Development | Instructor: Ron Solomon

Level 1: Manufacturing and Product Development 1 (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
Level 2: Manufacturing and Product Development 2 (UC ‘g’ elective & articulates to NVC: MACH 100)
This pathway uses machine tool technology as it is practiced in the 21st century. Students gain expertise in manufacturing processes and systems to design and produce products and solve real-world problems.
Pathway Promo Video | Student Spotlight Video

Medical Science | Instructor: Leauretta Boulding

Level 1: Medical Biology (UC biology ‘d’ lab credit)
Level 2: Human Anatomy & Medicine (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
An academically challenging laboratory science pathway that examines biology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and medical terminology while applying scientific research to the study of the human body.
Certifications: Bloodborne Pathogens (Level 1); First Aid (Level 2); Adult CPR (Level 2)
Pathway Promo Video

Sustainable Construction | Instructor: Jerry Harris

Level 1: Construction Technology I (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Level 2: Construction Technology II (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Provides learning opportunities for careers in construction and building design, performance, sustainability, millwork, furniture making, and more.
Pathway Promo Video

New Technology High Digital Design Students

See Course Outlines on our Resources Page

Digital Design | Instructor: Lisa Gottfried

Level 1: Graphic Design (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit & articulates to SCC: ARTD 044)
Level 2: Advanced Digital Design Lab (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
This pathway prepares students for a number of fields and post-secondary opportunities in the digital design world. It emphasizes hands-on production experiences and provides opportunities for students to learn and apply techniques and aesthetics of historical perspective, current technologies, applications of design, and principles of 2D and 3D design, animation, video and storytelling.
Certifications: Adobe
Pathway Promo Video

St. Helena Agriculture Course

See Course Outlines on our Resources Page

Agricultural Mechanics | Instructor: Randy Mendes

Introduction to Ag Mechanics
AutoCAD (articulates to NVC: DDGT 110)
Advanced Ag Mechanics (articulates to NVC: WELD 100)

Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO): Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Agriscience | Instructor: Judith Aschwanden

Agricultural Biology or Biology (UC biology ‘d’ lab credit)
Ag Chemistry and Agriscience or ★Honors Ag Chemistry (UC Honors chemistry ‘d’ lab credit)
★Advanced Ag Systems (UC Honors interdisciplinary sciences ‘d’ lab credit)
Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO): FFA

Computer Science | Instructor: John Harrington

Exploring Computer Science (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Computer Science Principles (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Student Affiliation: Technology Student Association (TSA)

Culinary Arts & Hospitality | Instructor: Brenda Gibbon

Level 1: Culinary Arts (UC ‘g’ elective credit & dual credit at NVC: HCTM 100)
Level 2: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management (UC ‘g’ elective & dual credit at NVC: HCTM 120)
Certifications: Food Handlers

Ornamental Horticulture | Instructor: Sarah Herdell

Ornamental Horticulture (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Viticulture (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO): FFA

Floral Design Sub-Pathway

The Art and History of Floral Design (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
Advanced Floral Design (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO): FFA

Performing Arts | Instructor: Patti Coyle

Drama (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
Advanced Drama (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
Student Affiliation: International Thespian Society

★ UC Honors
Valley Oak High Digital Media Course

Design, Visual, and Media Arts | Instructor: Evrim Cakir

Level 1: Two-Dimensional Design
Level 2: Three-Dimensional Design

Students with lamb

See Course Outlines on our Resources Page

Agriscience | Instructor: Maren Powers

Level 1: Agricultural Biology (UC biology ‘d’ lab credit)
Level 2: Agriculture and Soil Chemistry (UC chemistry ‘d’ lab credit)
Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO): FFA

Animal Science | Instructor: Maren Powers

Level 1: Animal Science (UC ‘d’ lab credit; articulates to SRJC: ANSCI 20)
Level 2: Veterinary Science (UC ‘d’ lab credit, ‘g’ elective credit)
Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO): FFA
Pathway Promo Video

Business | Instructor: Dylan Leach

Level 1: Choices: College & Career (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Level 2: Business Management and Entrepreneurship (UC ‘g’ elective credit)

Pathway Promo Video

Culinary Arts & Hospitality | Instructor: Derek McClintick

Level 1: Culinary Arts (UC ‘g’ elective credit & dual credit at NVC: HCTM 100)
Level 2: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management (UC ‘g’ elective & dual credit at NVC: HCTM 120)
Certifications: Food Handlers
Pathway Promo Video

Multimedia Production | Instructor: John Paul Castillo

Level 1: Multimedia Productions 1 (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit & articulates to SCC: ARTD 044)
Level 2: Advanced Multimedia Productions (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
Certifications: Adobe
Pathway Promo Video

Printing & Graphics | Instructor: Shawn Sandahl

Level 1: Graphic Design & Printing Arts Intro (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
Level 2: Advanced Graphic Design & Printing Arts (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit & articulates to SCC: ARTD 044)
Certifications: Adobe
Pathway Promo Video

Woodworking | Instructor: Brady Mitchell

Level 1: Woodworking I (UC ‘g’ elective credit)
Level 2: Wood Design & Sculpture (UC ‘f’ fine arts credit)
Certifications: OSHA
Pathway Promo Video

Main Office Info.

Telephone
707-253-6810

 

eMail
info@napacoe.org

 

Hours
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

 

Address
Napa County Office of Education (main)
2121 Imola Avenue
Napa, CA 94559

Program Locations

Napa County Office of Education
2121 Imola Avenue
Napa, CA  94559

Research & Professional Development Center
1450 Technology Lane, Suite 200
Petaluma, CA  94954

Napa Infant Program
1511 Myrtle Avenue
Napa, CA  94558

Napa Preschool Program
74 Wintun Court
Napa, CA 94559

Camille Creek Community School
2097 Imola Avenue
Napa, CA 94559 

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