Utica families got a closer look at the career choices available to students during the school district’s fall Utica CTE open house on Oct. 21. The event was for current eighth-, ninth- and tenth-grade students and their families, according to a district recap posted Oct. 23.
Families learned about CTE programs and met business and industry partners connected to the different pathways. The district says its program offers hands-on learning in 12 career pathways developed with more than 250 local businesses. Its goal is to prepare students for both higher education and careers in fields where employers need workers.
The district’s recap and photo gallery cover the completed Oct. 21 event. The recap does not provide an attendance total or announce another open-house date. It thanks the families, industry partners, teachers and staff who took part.
Why this matters for Utica families
The open house came as the district continues to build its CTE program around the new wing at Thomas R. Proctor High School. The district says that wing welcomed its first group of students in fall 2025.
In its high-school CTE overview, UCSD describes a longer path toward choosing a field of study. Elementary students get early exposure to career ideas. Middle-school students explore career fields through projects in family and consumer science and technology classes. A ninth-grade exploratory course helps students prepare to choose a pathway by the end of ninth grade.
That timeline gives the Oct. 21 event a practical purpose for the grades it served. Families could connect what students are learning now with the choices they will make during high school. For a student who enjoys building, working with computers, caring for others or creating media, the next question is which course sequence fits that interest.
The district also says high-school students can take part in off-campus work-based learning tied to their chosen pathway. Families should ask what those experiences involve for a specific program rather than assume every pathway offers the same placement or schedule.
The 12 pathways listed by the district
UCSD’s CTE pathways page lists these options under its fall 2026 heading:
- Advanced Manufacturing: Robotics Automation & Mechatronics
- Business Finance
- Computer Applications
- Construction Technology
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analytics
- Electricity & Fiber Optics
- Electric Vehicle Automotive Technology
- Entrepreneurial Zone Academy
- Future Educators
- Health Professions
- Media Productions
The same page separately identifies Business Finance, Computer Applications and Entrepreneurial Zone Academy as current New York State Education Department-approved pathways. That distinction matters. The broader list of 12 should not be read as a statement that every listed pathway has the same state approval, credential or course requirements.
The district describes early career awareness beginning in kindergarten through sixth grade, followed by middle-school modules that introduce national career clusters. The high-school choices are intended to connect that early learning with local workforce needs and further education.
A program connected to local partners
UCSD’s CTE partnership directory lists businesses, labor groups, community agencies and colleges. Among the listed partners are Indium Corporation, the New York Power Authority, M&T Bank, IBEW 43, Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
Those names show the range of organizations involved in the program. The directory is a program-wide resource, however. It does not establish which organizations attended the Oct. 21 open house, and it should not be used as an event guest list.
The new center also has a recent history. In a September 2025 announcement, the district reported that more than 200 people attended its Sept. 18 opening. It said construction began with a May 2024 groundbreaking. The district described internships and pre-apprenticeships as part of its wider effort to connect classroom work with businesses, colleges and community organizations.
What families can do next
Families who missed the open house can start with the district’s pathway descriptions, then speak with a school counselor about the student’s interests and current classes. UCSD’s contact guide lists the guidance counselor as the first contact for guidance and career services.
Useful questions include:
- Which pathway fits the student’s interests, and when does its course sequence begin?
- What classes or other requirements must the student complete first?
- What certifications, college credit or work-based experiences are available in that specific pathway?
- How will pathway classes fit alongside graduation requirements and other courses?
- What is the current application process, and are there any deadlines or limits on available seats?
The district’s CTE page lists Michelle Hall as director of CTE at mhall@uticaschools.org. It also lists Elizabeth Barber-Breese for curriculum and academic supports and Carly Calogero as work-based learning coordinator and CTE business department chair. Families can use those contacts for program-specific questions after speaking with their counselor.
The October event offered a chance to begin that conversation. The next step is a clear plan for the individual student: the courses to take, the support needed and the opportunities a chosen pathway can provide.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration created with OpenAI for the Utica Phoenix. It represents career learning and does not show Proctor High School, its equipment or the open house.
