Silicon Valley Career Technical Education

Students can go into the metalworking industry as a entry level or intermediate level employee. Metal working is one of the largest industries in the United States students can go into employment building bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers, pipelining system, custom fabricated products, aerospace production and many other products that need to be welded and fabricated in our economy. The current pathway is growing at 9% and is projected to continue to grow. Starting wages are typically $18-23 for starting and journeyman level employees are typically $45-70 per hour. The class can be physically demanding, expect to be standing and working on your feet for 2-3 hours in class, although there is no heavy lifting. Expect to wear long pants and closed toed shoes in class every day. Expect to be using basic math and science to solve assignments in lab. The class focuses on academic, technical skills, and employability practices. Students will develop personal and professional skills in the classroom that will transfer to the workplace:

 

 

 

Cassidy Cannizzaro graduated from Los Gatos High School where he completed four years of metals technology. He is a two-year program graduate of Silicon Valley CTE’s Metals Technology class. He earned an AS degree in Welding Technology from Butte College. While in high school, he discovered his interest in teaching while a student aide in Los Gatos High School’s metal shop. As a classroom aide, he worked with first and second year students in class and in the shop. At Butte College, as a professor’s assistant, he continued to develop his skills to lead in an educational setting. After completing his college degree in Welding Technology, Mr. Cannizzaro joined Safari West as a lead welder and fabricator for this African wild game preserve in Santa Rosa.

 

I teach CTE to highlight different career opportunities that a traditional high school no longer offers. Welding and manufacturing are huge industries in the Bay Area as well as nationally with a viable future. My goal with CTE education is to show students that they can make a living wage doing what they love. If a person enjoys hands-on work, a sense of accomplishment and being in a team setting, I always recommend going into any trade. With so many students in today’s educational system thinking their only option is to go directly to a university and sometimes with an undeclared major. My goal is to expose students to a new life pathway for a career right out of high school or a new college major they can pursue that will be fulfilling as well as highly paid to support a family for years to come.