Career & Technical Education-CTE School Board of Highlands County

🏆 VOTE FOR SEBRING HIGH SCHOOL! 🏆

Sebring High School's Welding Program has been selected as a finalist in the Statewide Welding & Fabrication Challenge and is now competing for the Secondary People's Choice Award!

The challenge featured outstanding welding and fabrication projects from schools across Florida, and our students' hard work, creativity, and craftsmanship have earned them a spot among the best with their Mini BBQ Smoker.

👉 Help us bring home the People's Choice Award by visiting the contest page and liking the photo of Sebring High School's sculpture.

🗓 Voting ends at noon on Friday, June 19.

Every like counts! Let's show Florida what Highlands County students can accomplish through Career and Technical Education.

Please like, share, and encourage your friends and family to support our talented Blue Streak welders!

Sebring High School The School Board of Highlands County

🎉 Congratulations to the Nursing students at Lake Placid High School on earning their Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) certification! 🎉

This achievement marks a major milestone as these students become the first to earn a medical industry certification at Lake Placid High School.

A special recognition goes to Instructor Kaitlyn Hoyle for an outstanding first year in the classroom. As a Certified Registered Nurse, Mrs. Hoyle brought not only her professional experience but also a true passion for helping students learn, grow, and reach their goals. Her dedication to student success has already made a lasting impact and helped pave the way for future achievements in the program.

We are incredibly proud of these students for their hard work and commitment, and excited to see what the future holds for healthcare education at Lake Placid High School! 🩺👏

Another outstanding year of success for the Career and Technical Education students at Avon Park High School! 🎉

Students finished the school year earning more than 200 industry certifications across multiple career pathways, showcasing their hard work, dedication, and career-ready skills. Certifications earned this year include:

✔️ ServSafe
✔️ ESB (Entrepreneurship and Small Business)
✔️ Duck Unlimited Ecology and Conservation Management
✔️ AutoDesk Fusion
✔️ WordPress Certified User
✔️ Agriculture Associate
✔️ Animal Science Specialist
✔️ Agricultural Systems
✔️ Agricultural Communications
✔️ BASF Plant Science
✔️ Certified Veterinary Assistant

These certifications provide students with valuable real-world experience and credentials that can help them secure employment, continue their education, and build successful futures after graduation.

We are incredibly proud of our students and teachers for their commitment to excellence and for continuing to raise the standard of CTE success at Avon Park High School! 💙🧡

Recently, students and instructors from the Sebring High School Welding Program and the Lake Placid High School Nursing Program had the opportunity to present to the Leadership Highlands Class of 2026, showcasing the incredible talent, professionalism, and career readiness being developed in Highlands County Schools!

Sebring High School Welding Instructor Philip Cosby and his students shared how hands-on learning in welding and agricultural mechanics prepares students for high-demand careers through industry certifications, technical skill development, and real-world project experiences. Their presentation highlighted the dedication, craftsmanship, and work ethic students develop while preparing for success in the skilled trades.

Lake Placid High School Nursing Instructor Kaitlyn Faulk and her students demonstrated the compassion, communication, and leadership skills essential in the healthcare field. Students spoke about patient care, teamwork, empathy, and the importance of serving others while preparing for future careers in nursing and healthcare.

These presentations gave community leaders a firsthand look at how Career and Technical Education programs are empowering students with meaningful opportunities, industry credentials, and the confidence to succeed after graduation. We are proud of these students and instructors for representing their schools and Highlands County Schools so well!

STATE CHAMPS ⚙️

Congratulations to the team from DeLand SR FFA, named as STATE CHAMPION of the 2026 Florida FFA State Agricultural Mechanics CDE on May 2!

Members of the state champion team, from DeLand High School of Volusia County Schools, include Wyatt Blair, Jarrett LeFils, Justin "Ty" Davis and Benjamin Collins, with chapter advisors Brett Brandner and Andrew Peck.

Wyatt Blair also placed as the overall high individual for the competition.


Other top placing teams include...

2 — Okeechobee Brahman FFA (Okeechobee)
3 — Durant Sr. FFA (Hillsborough)
4 — Sebring Senior FFA (Highlands)
5 — Plant City FFA (Hillsborough)
6 — J.M. Tate FFA (Escambia)
7 — Baldwin FFA (Duval)
8 — Bronson FFA (Levy)
9 — Lake Placid FFA (Highlands)
10 — Plant City JR/JG Smith (Hillsborough)

(Team member names and full individual placings were not available at the time of publishing, we apologize for the inconvenience.)


After qualifying for the state finals through placing in the top 10 through online preliminary testing earlier this spring, each team competed on the state level on May 2, hosted by Big Bend Technical College in Perry.

The Agricultural Mechanics CDE allows members to learn hands-on about topics related to mechanics and agricultural technology, such as welding, diesel engines and machinery.

Congratulations, teams!

Congratulations to the students in the Lake Placid High School Culinary Program for their outstanding success earning the ServSafe Industry Certification under the leadership of Instructor Mr. Skalski! 👨‍🍳🎉

The ServSafe certification is one of the most recognized credentials in the restaurant and food service industry. Students must demonstrate their knowledge of food safety, sanitation practices, proper food handling, workplace cleanliness, and procedures that help protect the health of customers and staff. 🍽️

By earning this certification, these students are gaining a valuable advantage as they enter the workforce. Many restaurants and food service establishments look for employees who already hold ServSafe credentials because it shows professionalism, responsibility, and industry-ready skills. Students can begin using this certification immediately to help secure employment opportunities in restaurants, catering services, hospitality, and other culinary careers.

We are proud of the hard work, dedication, and commitment these students have shown as they continue preparing for successful futures in the culinary industry. Great job, Dragon Nation! 🐉🍽️

🧇 Waffle Wednesday – Teacher Appreciation! 🧡

The Lake Placid High School Principles of Teaching students, along with FFEA, showed their appreciation in the sweetest way possible—by hosting a Waffle Wednesday celebration for our amazing faculty and staff!

Students arrived early to prepare and serve nearly 100 delicious waffles, complete with a waffle bar full of toppings. As future educators, these students truly understand and value the hard work, dedication, and heart

our teachers show every single day at Lake Placid High School.
Thank you to our students for this thoughtful gesture, and thank you to our incredible teachers for all that you do! 🍓🧈💙

Lake Placid High School