Giving Compass' Take:

• Dave Curry, director of Career and Technical Education, shares an approach to programming that offers students hands-on, technical training aligned with the current job market in preparation for 21st-century careers and credits creativity as it's success.

• Why do educators need to be strategic about creativity with some students? Why is it a difficult thing to incorporate?

• Here's an article on how weaving art into STEM benefits more creative students. 

Jazzy, one of our high school seniors, already has experience building homes for others. After taking specialized construction and carpentry classes through Milton Hershey School’s Career and Technical Education program, she learned how to install flooring and doors, sand and paint drywall, and adjust electrical and plumbing systems.

For students like Jazzy, gaining experience in the trades can lead to future success. According to The Bureau of Labor and Statistics, construction careers, along with healthcare and personal care, will account for more than 5.3 million new jobs by 2022.

While the trade industry’s growing demand is encouraging for students who don’t plan to attend college, many students choose to pursue careers in the trades based on their interest in designing, producing, problem-solving and creating.

While some people may not think the trades promote creativity, that would be suggesting there is only one way to do things. Promoting creativity throughout career and technical education allows students to learn a broad array of skills apart from individual projects.

Read the full article about the power of creativity by Dave Curry at Getting Smart.