Career & Technical Education Academies
Career & Technical Education Academies
Join one or more today!
Why join an academy?
- Explore a career possibility
- The challenge of an in-depth curriculum
- Looks good on job and college applications
- Amazing experiences
- Network with other students with similar interests
- Art, Media & Entertainment Academy
- Business
- Culinary Arts
- Biomedical
- Citizenship & Public Service
- Engineering
Art, Media & Entertainment Academy
Activities
Field Trips, Guest Speakers, Art Exhibits, Performances, Public Art, Competitions, Hand-on,
Gallery Visits, Site Visits, Job Shadowing, Concerts, and much more...
Career Possibilities
Media & Design Arts Pathway Careers
- Environmental Designer
- Interactive Designer
- Graphic Artist
- Fine Artist
- Architect
- Interior Designer
- Product Designer
- Web Designer
- Illustrator
- Biomedical Illustrator
- Writer
- Fashion Designer
- Cinematography
- Photographer
- Lighting/Sound Tech.
- 2D/3D Character Animation
Performing Arts Pathway Careers
- Actor
- Musician
- Broadcaster
- Dancer
- Singer
- Voice Actor
- Costume Designer
- Screen Writer
- Conductor
- Choreographer
- Lighting Technician
- Sound Technician
Production & Managerial Arts Pathway Careers
- Producer
- Director
- Set Designer
- Sound Editor
- Film Editor
- Visual Effects Coordinator
- Museum/Gallery Curator
- Art Director
- Art/Film/Music Critic
Business
Thank you for interest in the Business Academy at Foothill High School. We are excited about this unique opportunity for you to build an education tailored around your specific occupational interest. This small learning community allows students to share meaningful experiences that are relevant to the professional working world, offer variations of curriculum rigor, and foster lasting relationships with both teachers and peers. The academy philosophy operates on the premise that it takes more than what is absorbed through textbooks to be successful. It takes leadership, ambition, and confidence, but perhaps most importantly, it takes years of experience. Students will attend field trips which offer unique experiences to receive a behind-the-scenes look at the professional working world. In addition, guest speakers will offer an insider’s perspective and present students with the tools they need to succeed. The real world application of classroom curriculum prepares students for their careers and provides them with an edge over future collegiate and career competition.
For more information, see Mrs. Raaker in A4 or check with your counselor. I have also attached an application (if you have not yet completed one) and the Foothill Career Path Course Selection Chart, for your convenience as you begin scheduling your classes for the coming year. Don’t delay. Get started today. Map out your plan for success and ensure that you are on course to receive the Business Academy recognition.
Welcome to the Business Academy at Foothill, we offer: ROP Integrated Marketing Communications, Sports & Entertainment Marketing and Economics of Business Ownership.
We also offer two Co-Curricular activites which means they are intertwined into the Business Academy classes and students have to be registered in one of the Business Academy classes at Foothill to participate. Read more about these activities below: DECA and WBL (Work Based Learning)
Classes
DECA
DECA is a career technical student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. DECA enhances the co-curricular education of members through a comprehensive learning program that integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business and promotes competition. To accomplish this, DECA utilizes on-the-job experience, chapter projects, and a program of competency-based competitive events in specific industry areas. DECA’s activities assist in the development of academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders.
DECA Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit student organization with more than 200,000 members in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Canada, China, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The United States Congress, The United States Department of Education and state, district and international departments of education authorize DECA’s programs.
All students in the Marketing & Economics of Business Ownership classes are members of DECA. You must be enrolled in one of the ROP classes to travel for competition with DECA.
Click here for a complete list of DECA's competitive events.
For more information on DECA (in general), contact Tami Raaker at Foothill High School at traaker@pleasantonusd.net, join us on our Foothill DECA Facebook page or visit the DECA websites at cadeca.org, deca.org or foothilldeca.com. Business partners, to assist with training, development and/or judging for competitive events are needed throughout the year. Anyone wishing to make a charitable contribution to assist students with competition expenses should contact Tami Raaker. Donations are tax deductible.
CVE / WBL
Cooperative Vocational Education/Work Based Learning
Tri Valley ROP Economics of Business Ownership, Integrated Marketing Communications, and Sports and Entertainment Marketing offer cooperative work-based learning opportunities. Students may receive variable credits based on the number of "on-the-job" hours worked. Students are encouraged to work 10-15 hours per week at approved sites in the Tri-Valley geographical area with their current job, or employment leads and guidance will be provided.
The objective of the cooperative work-based learning program is to earn academic high school credit for employment relating to their educational or career goals. Students receive variable credits based on the number of "on-the-job" hours worked at approved sites in the Tri-Valley geographical area with their current job or internship; employment leads and guidance can be provided.
More information on work permits
For more information on eligibility or enrollment in the CVE program, students should inquire in their CTE class with Mrs. Raaker.
Culinary Arts
What are your interests? Do you...
Watch cooking shows on the Food Network, experiment in the kitchen, like to try new cuisines, read cookbooks for fun, ask people for their recipes, read the nutrition labels before you eat, look forward to holiday feasts, care how food looks on the plate, think it's fun to cook for others, enjoy planning meals for special diets, do you want a career where food is the medium for expressing yourself? Then Culinary Arts Academy is for you!
Activities
Recipe Testing, Cooking Contests, On-Site Catering Opportunities, Managing a Business, Guest Speakers, Career Exploration, and much more...
Career Possibilities
Food Service and Hospitality Pathway Careers
- Baker
- Banquet Manager
- Broiler Cook
- Caterer
- Dietitian
- Dining Room Manager
- Executive Chef
- Food and Beverage Manager
- Food Service Director
- Food Stylist
- Nutritionist
- Pastry Chef
- Product Development
- Restaurant Owner
- Sauté Cook
Biomedical
Whether discovering new cancer treatments or teaching healthy lifestyle choices to their communities, today’s biomedical science professionals are tackling big challenges to make the world a better place.
PLTW Biomedical Science students are taking on these same real-world challenges – and they’re doing it before they even graduate from high school. Working with the same tools used by professionals in hospitals and labs, students engage in compelling, hands-on activities and work together to find solutions to problems. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.
Citizenship & Public Service
Do you like...
Being friendly and outgoing, interested in making things better for other people, good at helping people solve problems, open & understanding, and being cooperative? If you answered yes to any of the above, FHS Public and Human Services Academy might be for you!
Occupations Related to:
Human Services
- Adoption, child protection, clergy, early child care, geriatrics, guidance and counseling, human services, mental health, psychology, and a social worker.
Education
- Teaching, consulting, counseling, and research.
Legal Services
- Adjudication, advocacy, and mediation.
Protective Services
- Corrections, criminal investigation, law enforcement, mediation, and security.
Career Possibilities
Public and Human Services Pathway Careers:
Entry level (after high school graduation)
- Preschool Aide
- Family Child Care Provider
- Recreation Aide
- Teachers Aide
Technical (post-secondary education)
- Child Day Care Supervisor
- Preschool Teacher
- Special Education Aide
- After School Program Supervisor
Professional (college/University/postgraduate)
- Preschool Director
- Children Center Supervisor
- Child Psychologist
- Elementary/Secondary Teacher
Engineering
From launching space explorations to delivering safe, clean water to communities, engineers find solutions to pressing problems and turn their ideas into reality. PLTW Engineering empowers students to step into the role of an engineer, adopt a problem-solving mindset, and make the leap from dreamers to doers. The program’ s courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges that help them become better collaborators and thinkers. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.