In recent years, the Cheatham County School District has made major investments and expansion of its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, offering courses including automotive technology, medical sciences and agriculture. Those have allowed students the chance to get the certifications, credits and experience they need to hit the ground running upon graduation whether they want to continue their education or jump full-time into the workforce.
The Cheatham County School Board received updates about the progress made in the agriculture and veterinary science programs in the district at the board’s Feb. 5 meeting held at the Cheatham County School District Educational Annex in Ashland City.
Sycamore High School (SHS) principal Deborah Wenning and Agriculture Science teacher Beth Waynick shared some of the achievements and highlights with the board as part of the SHS School Improvement Plan.
As part of the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, the school currency offers classes in Agriscience, Small Animal Science, Large Animal Science and Veterinary Science, which has a work-based learning track that allows students to work at the Wild Things Veterinary Clinic in Pleasant View to get hands-on experience with a wide variety of animals.
According to Waynick, students earn $12 an hour, get paid up to 160 hours throughout the course and get credits towards the 300 hours they need to earn their Certified Veterinary Assistant license. “We’ve seen some cool things in the vet’s office this year. I’ve had students assist in surgical procedures, whether it be things like spaying and neutering, and I had a student assist in, I think it was a kidney stone removal in a lizard,” Waynick said.
Waynick announced the program will be transitioning to a horticulture program beginning in the fall. Coming from a horticulture background, Waynick said this will open up more opportunities for students, such as helping to landscape school grounds, instruction in floral design and getting to work on the school farm. She also shared that the SHS branch of Future Farmers of America has around 100 members.
The school board has its regular work session the fourth Thursday of every month and its regular meeting the first Thursday of every month.