‘One of a kind’: A tour of the new, specialized Career Tech High School in St. George

Written by Nick Yamashita
October 22, 2023

ST. GEORGE —  “It has been eight years in the making,” Career Tech High School Principal Chris Homer said.

Career Tech High School literally “saw” their grand opening during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on campus, St. George, Utah, Sept. 22, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Career Tech High School, St. George News

The new 126,607 sq. ft. school opened at the beginning of the school year with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 22. The ceremony had multiple school district administration in attendance as well as local, county and state officials.

Homer said the journey of the new school, which offers eight pathways of academic programs for students, started with one district employee, Bob Sonju.

Retired now, Sonju attended professional development training at a Houston-based, Tex. school and was impressed with the idea of a school that offers different “pathways” of study helping integrate students into the career world after graduation.

The original concept was inspired by the Dr. Kirk Lewis Career and Technical High School. Just like its protege, the school is known as Career Tech High School.

Sonju discussed the concept with Computer Technology Director David Gardner and previous Washington County School District Superintendent Larry Bergeson.

It was then brought before the school board and interest expanded.

“It was a slow start and I don’t think it was one that anybody thought would end up where we are,” Homer said. “We are here, we are going, we started. We have some growing pains but kids love being here.”

The school offers eight, individual pathways of studies to help increase skills and specialized fields of careers. Construction & Architecture, Info Tech & Cybersecurity, Graphic Design & Digital Media, Health Science, Early Childhood Development Education & K-12 Teaching, Culinary Arts, Tourism & Hospitality, Engineering Technology & Robotics and Business Marketing & Entrepreneurship are the pathways offered.

The new Career Tech High School is labeled as “one of a kind” school in the state, offering specialized career pathways, St. George, Utah, Oct. 11, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

Each program offers help in getting certified and earned credentials for each industry, college credit as well as a high school diploma.

Technologically advanced, as well as a fully modern construct facility, the school is the only one of its kind in the Intermountain West region, according to the school website.

A tour of the campus was like stepping into a hidden collection of movie sets. Each room of 20 classrooms and 16 labs had “treasures” and “trinkets,” each detail-oriented to their pathway. Engineering rooms had drones, rovers, 3D printers, and “gizmos” and “gadgets” a-plenty.

Construction students had a full workshop area with partially built wood sheds, an off-road vehicle stripped down and all the tool “whoozits” and “whatzits” galore.

The culinary laboratory was a full kitchen setup with eight cooking stations and top-of-the-line equipment, including Hobart mixers. The medical rooms were set up with hospital beds and plug-ins with EKG monitors, IV stands and “thingmabobs.”

There was not one student desk in the entire school. Instead, tables with sinks, electrical plug-ins, computer monitors, drafting stands and work stations according to the field of study. Plenty of hands-on experience opportunities were visible.

“We are the only school like this in Utah. One of a kind,” Homer said.

CTHS is the only school where both technical-based programs and academic required studies are done at the same location, with school colors and a mascot, the Titans.

The courtyard for the school has area to relax and to hold a barbecue with beautiful landscaping, St. George, Utah, Oct. 11, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

The school is of modern construction and its architectural design cost approximately $33 million.

“We built this school for a lot less than a traditional school,” he said.

Since the school is career-oriented, there are no athletic fields. There still is a gymnasium, to provide physical education, and to accommodate assemblies and special presentations.

Building maintenance is lower, staff said. One neat feature, if walls need to be replaced, they can be replaced in one whole piece. A bar on the wall can be scanned to order another from the Canadian company that produced them.

“Everything is a lot less but you are still servicing a lot of students too,” Homer added.

Students still may participate in sports, band or drama, but at their normal boundary schools. Career Tech has students from the areas of each high school within the district, including Enterprise and Water Canyon in Hildale.

The school has partnerships arranged with Utah Tech University and Dixie Tech College, as well as an additional 15 acres of land to expand in the future.

Utah Tech University even has an “engineering and technology-oriented campus” in the works across the street.

Emphasizing their school motto of  “Find your Why at CT High,” Homer said the school was specifically for students who the spark to get a head start.

Career Tech High School’s conference room near administration offices displays one of the school’s slogans, St. George, Utah, Oct. 11, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

“We hope when they come here they know why they are here because they are saying I have a path. I have a vision. I know why I am here because I have chosen this pathway to learn,” he said.

The programs that have drawn the most interest have been Health Science, Business, Engineering and Construction. Already, recruitment of middle school students has begun.

There are approximately 520 students, 25 Seniors, 85 Juniors, 190 Sophomores and 220 Freshmen. The school’s capacity is 800 students, 100 students per pathway. They are aiming for 700-720 students for next year and hope for full capacity in their third year.

“One of the things that is hard is that our high schools are changing dramatically right before our eyes anyway,” he said. “We are not competing against what I remember as a high school. The old euphoric experience of high school is not the same as it was.”

The school is open to tours by appointment and located at 1001 E. White Dome Drive in St. George, near State Route 7 and River Road.

Career Tech High has an upcoming Block Kids Building Competition featuring kids from schools throughout the state. The event is on Oct. 27 with check-in at 12:30 p.m.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Yamashita has extensive experience reporting for small town media, covering a variety of subjects and events for The Virgin River Times and The Progress in Southern Nevada. Before a career in journalism, he worked a variety of jobs in criminal justice systems. Yamashita holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies from Southern Utah University. He is an award-winning photographer and writer. He has been published in scholarly articles and poetry compilations. In his spare time, he practices and teaches martial arts.

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Twitter: @STGnews

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