Career & Technical Education Consortium Logo

Careers In Business (CIB)

April 2026

The first year students have been job shadowing (JS) since October 2025, on Wednesday’s, and will continue until the end of the school year. Students have been welcomed by the community in the following areas: accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, real estate, project management, banking, investing, and marketing just to name a handful.

The goal of shadowing is to help students learn about various career paths in an effort to solidify their choice or perhaps remove it as an option. Therefore, saving them time and money in the future. The academic end of JS includes students polishing their communication skills in a variety of ways: using proper email etiquette with their mentors, researching and writing pre-job shadowing memos, post JS thank you letters, and making PowerPoint presentations to share with the class about each experience.

Often, students find a business they would like to intern for. This year, I’m thrilled that 12-14 of the current juniors have chosen to take the second year of the program which means having an internship next school year. In fact, some begin in May of the current year. It is my sincere belief that having an internship elevates each student from other students; in particular, when “selling” yourself to colleges and trying to obtain scholarships. The internship is also dual credit which is an added plus!

Students have also begun competing in the Stock Market Game (SMG) and it is extremely competitive between each team! Teams are developed with student input and any team member may be fired from their group if they don’t perform. The consequence is having to complete the entire project alone. Or, they may quit their team but only if another team is willing to hire them. The reason is to emulate the real world where a lack of performance has very real consequences. During the SMG, students learn how to research stocks, analyze each using a variety of metrics, trade Long or Short, buy bonds, etc. Then they use Excel, Word, and PowerPoint to create team portfolios, presentations, and evaluations which they present in mid-May to each of the SMG teams.

Lastly, thank you to the area businesses for supporting our CIB program! This is an immeasurable experience for the students and we are always very appreciative. 

Board Minutes from March 5, 2026

The students have been learning out how to figure material lists and what tools are needed to install various types of floor coverings. We are close to  being finished with this unit and will be spending some time on interior trim and finish carpentry when we return from spring break.

PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS E-LEARNING

Thursday, April 9, 2026
1:30 p.m.

CareerTEC office
2037 W. Galena Ave.
Freeport, IL 61032
(815) 232-0709

In compliance with Public Act 101-0012, CareerTEC will hold an E-Learning Hearing

prior to the Board of Directors Meeting
on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.
from the CareerTEC office conference room

2037 W. Galena Ave.
Freeport, IL 61032

E-LEARNING PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA
I. Roll call
II. Proposed E-Learning Plan for CareerTEC
III. Public Comment
IV. Adjournment

CareerTEC Board of Directors Meeting
CareerTEC Conference Room
2037 W. Galena Ave., Freeport, IL 61032

1:30 p.m., April 9, 2026
AGENDA

I. ROLL CALL
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. APPROVAL OF MARCH OPEN-SESSION MINUTES
IV. COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Affiliated Institutions/Agencies, Member Schools, Public Forum
V. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. Career and Technical Education Improvement (CTEI) Grant
B. Perkins Grant
C. Area Career Center Update
D. SY26 Safety Drills
E. SY27 Enrollment Numbers
F. Entrance Requirements
G. Attendance Guidelines
H. HOYA Updates
I. End of SY26 Schedule
VI. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Motion to Approve Routine Items
1. March Bills
2. Destruction of Closed-Session Recordings prior to 10/1/24

VII. CLOSED SESSION

VIII. ACTION ITEMS
A. Approval of Renewal of E-Learning Plan and Submission of Plan & Verification Form
B. Approval of Submission for Area Career Center Step 3 Proposal
C. Approval of Closed-Session Items
IX. ADJOURNMENT
NEXT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 7, 2026

In the second half of March, Culinary students focused primarily on international cuisine. The unit entails each student choosing a county and presenting to the class about that country's cuisine. Also, students choose a recipe from that country which the entire class prepares. Some class favorites from the international cuisine unit include Argentinian choripan (chorizo sandwich), Indian butter chicken, and English chicken parmo. Students enjoyed expanding their horizons and trying new, unique foods. 

In the first half of April, students will begin planning and organizing the annual Mock Restaurant event. Students will be able to invite family members to attend the event, during which each class acts as a restaurant, providing a five course meal to attendees. The courses usually consist of salad, soup, appetizer, entree, and dessert.

HOYA Program – Monthly Update

Over the past two weeks, students have been learning about restorative care and special care skills. Topics covered included airway interventions, chest tubes, tracheostomy care, preoperative and postoperative care, emergency surgeries, and acute care.

Students also participated in interactive skits on a variety of topics, including assistive devices, supportive devices, prosthetic devices, passive range of motion, and preoperative/postoperative care. These activities helped reinforce their understanding while building confidence and teamwork skills.

Students have continued attending clinicals, where they are gaining confidence in their hands-on skills, communication, and ability to provide timely, quality care.

This week, we began our unit on death and dying. We welcomed a guest speaker, a chaplain from Mercy Health, who spoke with students about their role and how healthcare workers can provide compassionate and supportive care to individuals at the end of life.

After spring break, students will continue exploring different healthcare careers through job shadows and class discussion, and start preparing their career portfolios.

Student Comments: 

“HOYA is a good experience, and I have learned a lot.”

“I've learned lots of new things in HOYA. It is a very informational class and challenges you to push yourself!”

“I am really glad I took this class. You earn your CNA in high school versus in college so it takes some stress 

off and you don't have to worry about it in the future. The teachers are especially amazing and are always here for you and very encouraging.”- Tori

“I have learned so much, met so many great people, and have had so many memorable experiences.”

“I am so grateful to be a part of this class. The teacher is one of the sweetest, and you can tell that she cares and wants you to succeed. The skills you learn will help so much.”

“I am really glad that I am taking this class. I enjoy doing clinicals. You can get a CNA job out of this class. If you want to go into healthcare, I definitely suggest this class for people. I enjoy learning all about the different healthcare jobs and other things you learn.” 

“This class has taught me many things about becoming a CNA, but the best part of the class is the environment. You get to learn new things, meet new people, and you get lifelong friends and maybe even coworkers. We always find fun in learning, whether that's with fun review games, or group work, it always makes the day more fun.”

“This class has given me skills and ideas for my future goals. I have really gotten to experience skills that I will need for the future.”

The HOYA 2 students are officially on the downhill slide toward the ultimate goal—high school graduation. And let me be clear… they are not giving in to the plague of senioritis. Not even close.

These students are staying busy, staying focused, and continuing to show up like future healthcare professionals. I have zero doubt they will maintain that momentum, even as the weather warms up and graduation gets closer. We have taken a couple mental health breaks with a quick walk outside during some of the amazing weather we have had, plus an outside version of our Jenga Med Term review. 

The countdown is real. Only 14 class days left for our Pecatonica students and 17 for our Dakota ladies. And yes… My students made sure I’m keeping track too, they created a retirement countdown chain for me. I’m officially sitting at 220 class days to go. (But who’s counting? 😏)

In the classroom, HOYA 2 students continue to strengthen their critical thinking skills through situational, real-world assignments in their online workbook. These activities push them to think and respond as CNAs and future healthcare professionals, giving them a realistic preview of what’s ahead in their careers.

We have wrapped up our units on the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems, with strong student-led presentations on the urinary system this week. After spring break, we’ll take that learning a step further with a sheep kidney dissection, hands-on learning at its best.

Next up, students will tackle the nervous system, teaching their classmates while also participating in brain and spinal cord dissections;  another powerful opportunity to connect terminology, anatomy, and real-world application.

And then… one of the student favorites. As we move into the integumentary system, students will work in groups to create and simulate realistic wounds. This activity is always a highlight. The level of detail, creativity, and realism they achieve is impressive, and honestly, a little shocking every year.

Bottom line,these students are finishing strong. Focused. Driven. And more prepared than ever for what comes next.

Ms. Steele proud. Always.

Our Mall of Life event was a great success.

6th & 7th grade students that went through the Mall of Life were from Dakota, Freeport, Orangeville, Pearl City, Pecatonica, Homeshoolers and TriCounty.

Students learned how to balance their expense ledgers, pay for housing, buy a car or 2, purchase insurance, pay for medical, dental and vision, buy a phone, pay for daycare, and buy clothes and groceries. They also had the opportunity to vote, buy a pet and purchase a vacation. There were also a few surprises that cost them to repair household items and maybe receive money back from the IRS.

A huge thank you to our CareerTEC students in Careers in Business, Culinary Arts, Construction Trades and HOYA 2 along with their instructors for all their help in making this event possible for the younger students. Thank you to the ladies at Citizen's State Bank for coming in to help run our "Bank"