Students praise Ignite Academies career labs as district expands middle-school CTE offerings

At the Jan. 8 Madison County Board of Education meeting students and principals showcased the districts middle-school career and technical education (CTE) career labs, part of the Ignite Academies initiative.

Principals from Ignite North and Ignite South and CTE staff described a model where students rotate through multiple career stations. Student Taylor Brun said she spent time at a nursing station and used a phlebotomy simulator, which inspired her to pursue health-care pathways. Student Raya Story said the culinary station encouraged her to experiment with recipes and helped her consider culinary arts as a future pathway.

Board members praised the pilot programs at Foley and other middle schools and said the district plans to offer the career lab modules at every middle school starting next year. The superintendent and staff noted that 15 of 16 pathways feed into Ignite Academies and described partnerships with local industry, donations of equipment, and dual-credit opportunities with Eastern Kentucky University in some pathways.

The board also recognized 24 teachers who will receive $500 grants from Mike's Kids Educational Foundation to support classroom literacy initiatives; the foundation has contributed more than $160,000 in Madison County Schools over 17 years.

Board members framed the CTE expansion as both educational opportunity and workforce development for the community.