Kathy Prather

Traditionally, students have been expected to choose between two paths after high school: college or vocational work. Kathy Prather sees a different reality emerging, where career and technical education (CTE) can support both paths instead of forcing students to choose. As superintendent and CEO of Pima Joint Technical Education District (JTED), she believes students should have multiple jumping-off points toward career success, college success, or both.

For Prather, CTE is applied academics, giving students a way to bring classroom knowledge to life through technical work. Mathematics, science, writing, and research take on greater meaning when students can see how those skills are used beyond the classroom, while hands-on learning makes those connections more tangible. A student interested in engineering, for example, might plan to take university classes after high school while gaining technical experience that shows how geometry applies to constructing a home.

That growing recognition of CTE’s value is reflected in JTED’s growth. The district has seen 77 percent growth over the past five years, which she attributes in part to a broader understanding of the value and relevance of contextual learning. At the same time, the stigma surrounding vocational education continues to dissolve. Students engage with CTE as they plan for their futures, often gaining a clearer sense of what they want to pursue. Some also discover what they do not want to pursue, making that realization valuable in its own right.

Industry-recognized credentials give that learning a tangible connection to the workforce. They can open the door to high paying entry-level careers, but Prather sees the credential as only a beginning. She points to graduates who receive job offers because of their credentials and then find employers encouraging them to pursue additional education, training, and credentials, with some employers willing to pay for that continued development.

“ We want students to see themselves on a pathway to success, not simply at the door of a college or university. “

As the nature of work changes, students must also be prepared for a labor market that will not remain static. New technology, startups, AI, and greater movement between employers are reshaping the workforce, and many of the jobs students will pursue do not exist yet. Prather therefore emphasizes lifelong learning, critical thinking, problem-solving, and foundational professional and technical skills, helping students recognize emerging opportunities and create their own.

Preparing students for that changing landscape requires schools to anticipate future workforce needs, not simply focus on the jobs available today. She looks to industry partners to project the skills and credentials they will need five years ahead, giving educators time to develop programs, secure equipment, plan certifications, and train students for future demand. The strongest partnerships are built around what the workforce is expected to need, not simply current openings.

The same long view shapes how Prather defines student success. She says CTE program concentrators complete postsecondary credentials or degrees at higher rates than the standard population, suggesting that preparation in high school can carry into further education. With many CTE programs designed to be AI-proof, students also gain a foundation for adapting as careers evolve. Education, in this view, becomes part of a longer pathway rather than something that ends with a high school diploma.

That broader vision is taking shape across Arizona through JTED’s collaboration with school districts, CTE districts, community colleges, universities, and economic and workforce development organizations. Together, these groups are working to map education and workforce needs at each level, connecting what students learn with the direction of the state’s economy. Prather believes this collaboration is a powerful opportunity to expand economic development, strengthen prosperity, and create greater opportunities for Arizona’s young people.