How It Works

Classroom Collaboration

Every year, industry associations, education organizations, and corporate foundations invest in national observances that spotlight Career & Technical Education (CTE), STEM, and the in-demand careers they power—but those celebrations rarely reach the classrooms where they would matter most.​


The CTE Science Teach-In closes that gap by partnering with these organizations to bring their campaigns to life in schools, turning CTE-related observances into live, student-led science experiences for younger learners.​

Step 1: Engage CTE programs

Using partner networks and targeted outreach, the CTE Science Teach-In identifies CTE high school and postsecondary programs whose instructors are eager to connect their students’ skills with real community impact.​


Invited teachers and their CTE students commit to designing and delivering short, engaging lessons that showcase the applied science at the heart of their pathway—such as health sciences, construction, IT, manufacturing, transportation, or agriculture.​

Step 2: Equip CTE teachers and students

Participating instructors receive a toolkit that includes:

  • Clear guidance on planning and hosting a successful CTE Science Teach-In event.​

  • Optional virtual onboarding sessions.​

  • Sample lesson ideas or full lesson plans, which can be customized or provided by the lead sponsor or host client.​

  • Take-home materials that help families understand the science, careers, and local opportunities connected to CTE.​

Step 3: Connect with the elementary and middle schools

CTE teachers coordinate directly with nearby elementary and middle schools to schedule their Teach-In sessions, secure necessary approvals, and arrange logistics such as permissions and transportation when needed.​


Together, they design an experience in which CTE students lead age-appropriate, hands-on science activities tied to their own technical training.​

Step 4: Elevate the story

For schools and partners that opt in, the CTE Science Teach-In team provides strategic communications support to:

  • Invite local media to see CTE-based science learning in action.​

  • Draft and place op-eds, letters, and stories that feature CTE students and educators as science leaders.​

  • Brief policymakers and community leaders, and encourage them to recognize participating schools and programs through proclamations, social media, or site visits.​

Step 5: Measure impact and recognize participants

After each wave of Teach-Ins, the initiative documents outcomes by tracking media and social coverage, collecting feedback from participating educators, and gathering examples of student work and stories.​


CTE teachers and students receive certificates or other recognitions, while elementary and middle school educators are surveyed about how the experience influenced their students and their interest in incorporating more applied-science, CTE-connected lessons in the future.