February is Career and Technical Education Month. The Career and Technical Education curriculum is a key part of Mobile County Public Schools’s mission to graduate students who are college and career ready. These programs prepare our students for the future by connecting learning to real careers; emphasizing career pathways aligned to college degrees; helping students earn career credentials before graduation; and creating strong workforce pipelines.
CTE starts early: At MCPSS, career tech actually begins in middle school, where students are encouraged to begin learning about career opportunities in the region and beyond. Students take career assessments; attend the Mobile Launch middle school career fair; and learn about the courses of study in the Signature Academies in each of our 12 high schools during the annual Signature Academy Showcase.
Middle school career coaching: For the 2025-26 school year, MCPSS has added three middle school career coaches to work with students in the 20 schools that educate students in grades 6-8. MCPSS uses the Alabama Career Planning System (KUDER) to provide a variety of career interest surveys, which give students an insight on possible careers that fit their interests.
Career Tech Centers: Mobile County Public Schools has three career tech centers that offer workforce-aligned coursework to our high school students: The Citronelle Center for Advanced Technology next to Citronelle High School; the Faulkner Career Tech Center next to Vigor High School; and the Bryant Career Tech Center in the southern part of the county. In addition, the district-wide CTE curriculum for high school students includes 35 career programs embedded in 16 career clusters. Each high school has a Signature Academy aligned to a variety of career options.
Workforce Development: Our students are exposed to career fields through several programs with our community partners, including:
Job Shadowing: During CTE Month in February, the CTE Department works with the Mobile business community to arrange on-site visits to give our students a chance to see careers in action. More than 100 business and establishments took part in 2025, and more than 400 students participated. Companies and organizations included government entities, law offices, medical offices, banks and nonprofits.
Career Fair: High school seniors work extensively with our Career Coaches to prepare for Career Ready Mobile, a partnership with the Mobile Chamber that will be held at USA Mitchell Center on March 25, 2026. Students are encouraged to research companies, practice interviews, polish their resumes and develop career plans before attending the Career Fair, which includes representatives from colleges and universities throughout the region.
Community Connections: In recent years, MCPSS has greatly expanded its connections with Mobile business and industry leaders. CTE leaders meet once a month with the Mobile Area Workforce Alliance, which was created by the Mobile Chamber's Economic Development Team. The Alliance, which includes representatives from local colleges and universities, along with city, Chamber, and workforce development representatives, follows a 10-step plan of action:
• Define and quantify workers and skills needed.
• Attract new workers locally and regionally from underrepresented groups and areas.
• Attract new workers to the Mobile area.
• Define skills students/workers need for each skill area & create the educational programs needed to teach the skills.
• Expand dual enrollment programs.
• Bring employers into schools and colleges to communicate opportunities.
• Create apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning across all priority industries.
• Recruit high school seniors not pursuing postsecondary into the workforce programs.
• Conduct local public relations campaigns to inform public about growing local industries and careers.
• Expand state funding for the school systems, colleges, and Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT).
These innovative CTE programs introduce students to a wealth of opportunities right here in Mobile County and beyond. Whether or not they plan to go to college, our graduates step out into the world with the skills to compete for well-paying jobs available in regional businesses and industries.