CTE instructor highlights program wins: student-built houses, robotics success and employer ties

Mr. Holmes, a Bemidji High School carpenter teacher, presented the district’s career and technical education (CTE) programs and told the board CTE students have a 97% graduation rate compared with other students, help retain at‑risk students, and benefit from strong partnerships with local employers and a technical college.

"We’ve built over 70 homes," Holmes said, describing hands‑on projects that give students real‑world experience and often lead to immediate job offers. He told the board the program recently received a grant from Minnesota Housing and noted students and teams have reached national robotics competitions.

Board members and attendees praised the program’s role in student confidence and workforce readiness. A board member said the district should continue investing in connections between CTE and career academies, and Holmes invited the board to a construction class open house at 2029 Red Rose Drive NW where students will give tours of a house the class worked on.

The presentation emphasized employer partnerships, internships, and student success stories (including graduates who have taken jobs with benefits and alumni who now run businesses and hire program graduates). The board thanked the CTE staff for their work and affirmed interest in a five‑year plan to sustain and grow programming.