• What is CTE?

    Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides an important pathway to success for high school students and offers each student opportunities to personalize his or her education based on their career interests and unique learning needs.  At the high school level, CTE provides students with opportunities to explore a career theme of interest while learning a set of technical and employability skills that integrate into or complement their academic journey.  These pathways can culminate in postsecondary degrees, certificates, apprenticeships, or employment.

    Many of our CTE students say their CTE classes helped them determine the interest for post-secondary education, careers, and more.  CTE students use their skills to pay their way through college, launch their career pathway, and make the high school journey just a little more interesting.

    CTE pathways within our highschool include CTE classes offered on campus at Cactus Shadows for Freshman-Seniors, in addition to specialty pathways offered at EVIT (East Valley Institue of Technology) for our Juniors and Seniors.

     Meet Your CTE Cactus Shadows Team:


    Dr. Cindy Bezard - Business Management, Marketing
    David Contreras - Film and TV, Finance 3-4
    Lori Hart - Digital Communications (Newspaper and Yearbook)
    Joe Harvey - Sports Medicine
    Jonathan Naylor - Finance, Software & App Design (Computer Science)
    Becky Lusk - Culinary Arts

    For questions, contact:
    Erin Scherer, Director of Career and College Readiness
    Phone: 480-575-2035
    Email:  escherer@ccusd93.net

  • OVER 45 CTE PROGRAMS



    9 CTE PROGRAMS
    On Campus

    Business Management:
    2-year program.  Dual Enrollment options.

    Culinary Arts:   2-year program

    Digital Communications:
    2-3 year program.  Pathways are Newspaper or Yearbook

    Film and TV*: 2-year program

    Finance*: 2-year program

    Marketing:  
    2-year program plus 3rd-year option

    Software App and Design (Computer Sciences)*:
    2-3 year program* (AP course option available)

    Sports Medicine & Rehab Services:
    2-3 year program plus an on-campus internship.  Dual Enrollment options.

    Foundations for Career Readiness*: 
    1-year program     (exploratory/counts as elective but not a CTE credit)

    *Open to all grade levels. All other programs are Sophomore or higher. 


    40 Additional CTE PROGRAMS at EVIT


    • Additional options are offered at EVIT-Main and EVIT-Power campuses. 
    • Students attend CSHS 6:20-10:20A, then bus to EVIT at 10:35A for the afternoon class. 
    • Students return to campus around 3:15P.
    • Sophomores and Juniors interested in attending EVIT next year should visit with their guidance counselor regarding prerequisites, applying, etc.

    For an overview of programs, visit the EVIT website.

    Note:  We recommend students take 2 years so they have the opportunity to test for an Industry Recognized Certification with workplace and college readiness value at the end of the second year.  Students may elect to transfer out after one year if the program is not a match for them.