Nearly a year ago, former athletic trainer and school administrator Nichole Thiel joined the United States Postal Service. Prior to taking on a role with the USPS, Nichole Thiel directed leadership development courses as a career and technical education (CTE) teacher for high school students.

1. The Role of a CTE
Teacher
Nichole Thiel

2. Introduction
• Nearly a year ago, former athletic trainer and school administrator Nichole Thiel
joined the United States Postal Service. Prior to taking on a role with the USPS,
Nichole Thiel directed leadership development courses as a career and technical
education (CTE) teacher for high school students.
Due to the increasing demand for a technologically-savvy workforce, middle and
secondary school systems hire CTE educators who specialize in creating and
implementing a curriculum that will enable students to develop relevant skills.
CTE teachers are also responsible for building strong links with the local
business community to provide students with internship opportunities and on-
site work experiences. More than 9 out of 10 high school students are impacted
by CTE in some way during the school year.
While many CTE programs focus on STEM, there are CTE positions with diverse
focuses, including health care administration, hospitality, and marketing. Most
CTE teachers hold a bachelor’s degree and necessary state licenses and
credentials. Job prospects for qualified CTE educators are expected to grow
steadily over the next five years.