Pittsburgh SD, HEAR Foundation launch emergency-response CTE partnership at Westinghouse High

At a launch event at Westinghouse High School, Pittsburgh SD and the HEAR Foundation announced a partnership to expand the district’s Emergency Response Technology career-and-technical-education (CTE) program and connect students to paid cooperative work, certifications and field experiences.

The event featured remarks from Dr. Hill, Superintendent Wayne Walters, Angela Mike (executive director for career and technical education), Mayor Corey O’Connor, police leaders, and student testimonials that illustrated how the program channels high-school students into EMS, fire and public-safety careers. "This partnership also allows us to highlight the great things happening here at Westinghouse and within the CTE programs across the city," Dr. Hill said in opening remarks.

Why it matters: District and city leaders framed the partnership as both a workforce pipeline and a bridge between students and public-safety professions. Angela Mike traced the program’s revival to 2016 and said the HEAR Foundation collaboration will "take it to another level" by providing exposure, transportation, meals during field trips and connections to industry professionals.

Program details and pay: Kristen Johnson, cooperative education coordinator for CTE, described cooperative education as "a structured work based learning experience" that places students in paid roles and job-shadowing. She gave concrete examples: students who worked with City of Pittsburgh emergency medical services and fire earned $12 an hour, and health-care CTE students placed at UPMC earned $18 an hour. Johnson said the experiences also provide certifications, professional networks and longer-term employment pathways.

Student voices: Seniors who have spent multiple years in the program described tangible gains. "Participating in this program has prepared me for my dreams of becoming an EMT," said Lauren, a senior who said she is REMT-certified at 17 and credited instructors and Homewood Fire Department programs for giving students a sense of belonging. William, another student, recounted receiving multiple certifications (CPR, OSHA and ICS-series) and described how the program helped him hone career goals ranging from policing to military service.

Community context and policing conversations: Leon Ford, a HEAR Foundation partner invited to speak, framed the work as part of community healing and relationship building with law enforcement; he said community partnerships are essential and urged students to "let us know how we could support y'all." Mayor Corey O’Connor praised the program’s role in workforce development, and Chief Lando urged students to consider careers in police, fire and EMS to "build our ranks" from within the city.

Next steps and logistics: Organizers closed with a tour of the CTE lab and equipment — including a donated fire truck, police car and ambulance — and moved guests into small-group tours so partners could see the hands-on training spaces and equipment that support the curriculum.

The district said the partnership will expand cooperative placements, certifications and supports; specifics about long-term funding commitments, the total number of placements, and exact program scale were not specified at the event.