Career & Technical Education (CTE)

October 2022 - Newsletter for Ionia County CTE programs.

Ionia County Career Center Updates

Ionia County Career Center Updates

It has been a wonderful start to the 2022-23 school year at the Ionia County Career Center. We have enjoyed some "normal" compared to the recent past. We are looking forward to great things this school year!
Ionia County Career Center Updates
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Local CTE Programs

Local CTE Programs

Did you know we have several local CTE programs at Belding High School & Saranac Jr/Sr High School?


  • Belding - Ag, Business, Finance, Marketing
  • Saranac - Ag
Local CTE Programs
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Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight

Check out our Criminal Justice alumni Meagan Ciganick and Krista Melchert working full time as Emergency Operators with Ionia County Central Dispatch. They were hired, in part, due to their participation in our Ionia County Career Center internship program with Central Dispatch during their time as Criminal Justice students with Mr. Nelson
Alumni Spotlight
All about Mrs. Brooks

All about Mrs. Brooks

Mrs. Elena Brooks is our Culinary Arts instructor. She has been with the Ionia County Career Center for 18 years. Elena is married to Jeff Brooks and they have two adult children, Mary & Mark. Mary is married to Joe and Mark is engaged to Audrey (to be married in February 2023). Elena enjoys spoiling Paul (PJ) her grandson (Mary & Joe's son). Elena is very involved in Portland High School Football (her husband Jeff is a coach), her church, and is the Superintendent of the Home Economics building at the Ionia Free Fair.


  • Travel: Went to the Grand Canyon this summer, this was on her bucket list.
  • Loves: Hugs
  • Favorite Color: Purple
All about Mrs. Brooks
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Quick Facts About CTE

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is at the forefront of preparing students to be “career- and college -ready.” CTE equips students with:

  • core academic skills and the ability to apply those skills to concrete situations in order to function in the workplace and in routine daily activities
  • employability skills (such as critical thinking and responsibility) that are essential in any career area
  • job-specific, technical skills related to a specific career pathway

CTE provides an excellent option that will lead to high skill, high wage & high demand jobs. CTE keeps kids in school; Michigan CTE students graduate in four years of high school 93% of the time compared to non-CTE students that graduate 79% of the time in four years. CTE helps give Ionia County the skilled workforce necessary to attract new business & industry.

Advice from Mr. Paton

Advice from Mr. Paton

Very few things in life are truly under our control except our attitude. Each day is a choice for what your attitude will be. Choose to be joyful and life will be far better for you and those around you.
Advice from Mr. Paton
Apply to sub for our programs!

Have you ever thought about subbing for the Ionia County Career Center and/or local districts? If so click the link above. Our substitutes are hired through ESS/Willsub.

About Us

About Us

About Us
The Ionia County Career Center provides students with the opportunity to expand their horizons through enrollment in career and technical education. The center operates nine state-approved programs. Classes are a combination of traditional academics and hands-on, project-based learning. Students are given the knowledge and experience they need to secure their next step towards success e.g. first-time job, college, or apprenticeship.
250 East Tuttle Road, Ionia, MI, USA careercenteroffice@ioniaisd.org 616-527-6540 ioniaisd.org/cte