Hello! We’re CTE.
A dynamic educational program focused on what happens after students walk across the stage at graduation.
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What’s CTE?
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is powered by passionate educators who specialize in career field program areas, facilitate career development, and support students with unique needs. We are focused on expanding student’s career and college options and smoothing the transition from high school to adulthood. Our mission? Every Johnston County Public Schools graduate has a plan for their future and the skills, knowledge, and aptitudes to make it a reality.
Career Preparation Programs
Advise. Assist. Advocate.
CTE Advisory Council
Our council comes together to provide insight on emerging trends and issues in the workforce and labor market, advise us on plans and projects, assist us in achieving our mission, and advocate for career and technical education.
Bebee Lee
Chair, Retired President
Junior Achievement of Eastern NC
Stefan Fehr
Vice-Chair, Training Project Manager/HRBP M.Ed.
NovoNordisk
Shante Bell
Owner/Entrepreneur
Soul’s Kitchen Food Truck
Loretta Byrd
President/CEO
Benson Chamber of Commerce
Michelle Pace Davis
Entrepreneur
Pace Family Farms
Caleb Gilley
Apprenticeship Regional Youth Coordinator
ApprenticeshipNC
Anna Kuykendal
Chief Academic Officer
Johnston County Public Schools
Vern Lindquist
President
Johnston Community College
Amber McGregor
Early Talent Advisor
Novo Nordisk
Maureen McGuinness
President/CEO
Triangle East Chamber of Commerce
Reno Palombit
Secretary, Director of Career and Technical Education
Johnston County Public Schools
Mike Tidwell
Director of Human Resources
KS Bank
William Weaver
Principal
South Johnston High School
Dana Wooten
Past Chair, President/CEO
Clayton Chamber of Commerce
Brian Worley
Associate Vice President of Business, Industry, Logistics and Transportation
Johnston Community College
Eman Zayyad
Owner
Landmark Auto
The Enthusiastic Educators Behind CTE
Reno Palombit
Director
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A chef. I loved watching PBS cooking shows hosted by Julia Child, Justin Wilson, Mary Ann Esposito, and Martha Stewart. I would host my own cooking shows in our kitchen facing an invisible camera. It was from culinary arts that I discovered FCCLA and changed course to become a family and consumer sciences teacher.
Kathryn Farrior
Workforce Development Specialist
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My childhood career goal was to be an "x-ray lady", which I now know is an x-ray technician.
Mark Allen
Program Specialist — Business, Marketing, Computer Science and IT
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A pilot. As a child, I was always fascinated with flight. I remember my first time going up with a friend who flew. I wanted to be an airline pilot and fly all over the world.
Cornelius Thomas
Program Specialist — Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Science, Career Investigations
Cornelius Thomas
Program Specialist — Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Science, Career Investigations
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A general manager of a Major League Baseball team. I still love baseball stats and strategy. Maybe my second career will be in sports management.
Dane Williford
Program Specialist — Agriculture, Skilled Trades, Technology and Engineering
Dane Williford
Program Specialist — Agriculture, Skilled Trades, Technology and Engineering
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a veterinarian.
Irma Bode
Middle School Career Development Coordinator
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist. My older sister was an amazing artist and would draw with me and buy me art supplies and art books. I loved color and design so I went to ECU as an art major where I discovered interior design in home economics. I loved all the areas, so I changed my major to home economics education.