Juan Carlos Ramirez, a senior at Greeley West High School, is taking a unique path towards his dream of becoming a history teacher. Thanks to the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, Ramirez spends his mornings focusing only on teaching, which leaves his afternoons attending regular classes at Greeley West.

“CTE offers courses for various careers like construction, welding, and teaching. I’m in the teaching program, and it’s great because I get to meet other students with the same passion and visit different schools to observe teaching styles,” Ramirez explained.

Unlike most students who attend school all day, Carlos only goes to Greeley West in the afternoons, giving him more flexibility. “I actually enjoy it because I get more time for lunch and I’m not stuck in one place all day,” Ramirez said.

The CTE program is helping him gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding into the teaching world. “I used to think teaching was just about explaining things to students, but there’s so much more. You have to understand different learning styles and even think about serious things like school safety,” Ramirez said.