CCA Offers Quality Career & Tech Education To Help Students Succeed

This Patch article is sponsored by College & Career Advantage (CCA).

Local businesses are the heart of our communities. Patch had a chance to talk with Paul Weir, Executive Director, College & Career Advantage of College & Career Advantage (CCA).

Patch: Tell us a bit about your organization.
Paul Weir: We are a regional occupational program (ROP) that serves both the Capistrano Unified and Laguna Beach Unified school districts. We offer high quality career and technical education (CTE) courses to high school students in both member districts. We also support the districts in offering courses at the middle school level and recently partnered with CUSD in developing elementary school CTE experiences for students. Students and community members can also enroll in our adult education program after the age of 18. We offer six different adult ed courses that lead directly to employment and are free of charge. We currently teach 108 different CTE courses at the high school level which are all A-G approved with 65 of those carrying honors weighting. CCA offers 20 after-bell regional courses that students from any of our consortium high schools may take. Our complete course offerings and locations can be found at ccadvantage.org.

Patch: How long has your organization been around in the community?
Weir: In California, the ROP structure has been in existence for more than 50 years.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?
Weird: I grew up in the country on a farm in Missouri where I learned to work with my hands from an early age. As I grew up I was able to take CTE courses in school and further my skills of creating and building. Wood shop classes were my particular passion. This led me to pursue a BS degree in Industrial Arts and Technology Education and become a CTE teacher. I first taught in Topeka, Kansas at Eisenhower Middle School. And as they say, the rest is history.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?
Weir: CTE supports every student’s goals.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?
Weir: My biggest challenge is working with state officials to impress upon them how critically important CTE is for all students in California and why CTE needs to be fully funded and supported by them.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
Weir: From a personal perspective, spending time in the classroom with teachers and students is the most satisfying part of my job, from an organizational perspective, being able to provide such a large variety of CTE courses to students is particularly gratifying.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?
Weir: When we have visitors from the state CTE department or from our consortium we routinely hear how impressed they are with our programs. This is a direct reflection of two things, first, our teaching staff is second to none. Our teachers are dedicated to their students and will do anything to help them succeed. They bring their industry experience into the classroom to help our students understand their chosen pathway and what it takes to succeed in the workforce. Secondly, our organizational team is the strongest team I have ever had the privilege of working with. You will not find a more dedicated group of educators and staff anywhere. This all supports the students and allows them to achieve at high levels. We annually have students compete in state, regional and international competitions with much success.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?
Weir: I have been blessed with many wonderful mentors throughout the years and I have incorporated bits and pieces of advice from all of them along my journey. Perspectives such as:

• Hiring good people is the biggest key to success
• Surround yourself with people whose skills you don't have
• Work hard to grow the leadership abilities of others
• Always look to say yes first
• Always use the decision making lens of “is this what's best for kids”
• Success is the result of everyone, not just the one

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?
Weir: We have just completed installing Career Guidance Centers in each CUSD high school. These centers are staffed with a Career Guidance Specialist that is there to assist students with accessing CTE pathways and courses, as well as exploring potential career interests. They are also able to help students explore postsecondary education that supports those interests. We believe this will help many students solidify plans for after high school and get them started on a path to success.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?
Weir: CCA will be partnering with Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo at their STEAM night in late March, We will be highlighting many of the STEM and CTE opportunities available to students at the high school. CCA will also be holding an open house at our Adult Program Campus located on the Capistrano Valley High School campus on March 20 from 10am-2pm. This open house is open to everyone.

Want to learn more? Visit ccadvantage.org or capousd.org today! Make sure to follow CCA on Instagram, too!