U.S. congressman explores 'pathways to the American dream' at Franklin County CareerTech
U.S. Rep. John Joyce and Caitlin O'Donnell first met years ago, when she was a Franklin County Career and Technology Center student competing at SkillsUSA, a competition for students learning skilled trades.
Today, O'Donnell is in her third year as the instructor of CareerTech's welding program. Her classroom happened to be one of five Joyce (R, PA-13) visited Tuesday during a tour of the school, which gives students from Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Greencastle, Tuscarora, Shippensburg and Fannett-Metal school districts the opportunity to learn trades that power the local economy.
"You're providing them that initial step into the workforce, without being shackled by college debt, to be able to achieve what their dreams are, not what society tells them their dreams are," Joyce said during a conversation with O'Donnell and a reporter.
O'Donnell is familiar with that trajectory.
After starting in CareerTech's carpentry program as a sophomore, she felt she could challenge herself more and moved to welding as a junior. The female instructor — whom O'Donnell ended up succeeding several years later —gave her confidence that she could do well in the male-dominated trade.
As a senior, she entered the co-op program and was paid $14 an hour to work as a welder while still in high school. After several years working in the field, she returned to CareerTech to train the next generation of welders. Today, going on a decade later, O'Donnell sends students out on co-ops making $19 to $22 an hour.
She is going back to school now to further her career as an instructor, but O'Donnell said her own experience on the trade track influences her decision to not push her students to enroll in college.
"If I would have went to college I may not have the position that I have now. I was able to work with my hands, make money, bought a house at 19, was able to accomplish things because I learned the trade here," she said.
In addition to the welding program, Joyce talked to instructors and students in the automotive tech, vet tech, carpentry and cosmetology programs about why they joined the program and how it does, or may, benefit their lives.
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Like O'Donnell, cosmetology instructor Casey Fore was a CareerTech student who worked in her field before returning to the school to teach. She told Joyce how CareerTech first introduces local students to trade opportunities in fifth grade. Fore said there are a few students in her class whom she remembers from the fifth-grade visits.
Students return in eighth and ninth grades, and can enroll for their sophomore years, according to Principal Justin Sholes.
CareerTech's 2023-24 enrollment of 1,040 students is a record, Sholes said. There are already 749 applicants for 430 slots for next year.
"The demand for career technical education is at an all-time high and we've been trying to grow, but you have to maintain that sustainable growth," Sholes said. "It's a matter of studying what does this local community need, not just what the kids want to do, but what can the local economy support? So, like, our most recent addition was early childhood education. You've probably heard a lot about how it's very hard to find reliable child care that's affordable. So now we're able to contribute to that industry as well."
Joyce said his tour of CareerTech — held in recognition of National Career and Technology Education Month — shows there are "many pathways to achieving the American dream."
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: U.S. Rep. John Joyce tours Franklin County CareerTech
