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New director for Career and Technical Education

Dave Thompson
/
Prairie Public

The new director of the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education said the CTE's programs remain very important when it comes to filling a lot of the open jobs in North Dakota.

Wayde Sick recently replaced Wayne Kutzer, who retired.

"If you look at the jobs listed on Job Service North Dakota, about 70 percent of those open jobs require an associate degree or less," Sick said in an interview. "If you look at what CTE offers, taht's the type of job we're helping prepare students for."

Sick said there is a mind-set among some that success means a four year degree. And he said the stigma associated with less than a four year degree needs to be overcome.

"It's educating students, it's educating parents," Sick said. "It's educating teachers, counselors administrators about the opportunities that are out there."

Sick said CTE will be going into the high schools, to tell students what’s available in those fields – and that the jobs pay well.