ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — In our ever-changing society, marketable job skills seem to be shifting from year to year and although medicine, law, business and education are still sought-after college degrees, the career/technical education path is getting wider year by year.

February is Career Technical Education month and according to the Association for Career and Technical Education, research shows many of the country’s fastest growing occupations require the technical, communication, time management and leadership skills taught in America's career/ technical education programs.

It also shows among high school graduates entering the workforce, those with a technical education background earn more than those without this advantage.

For the students who attend South Baldwin Center for Technology in Robetsdale, this is good news and for the past five years SBCT principal Kendall Mowdy has been trying to change the stereotype tech schools have been given over the years.

“I’ve been teaching for 24 years and a principal for five and people have the image of tech school being for the kids who don’t want to or can’t go to college and that could not be further than the truth. We have so many opportunities for the students here whether they choose to go to college or not,” Mowdy said.

For the 250 to 350 students at SBCT, there are many options for them to choose from including Welding, Building Construction, Horticulture, Automotive Repair, Cooperative Education, Drafting, Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education and Health Science.

“There is a big population of students that are in the middle, not at the top of their class but not at the bottom either, and they find their niche here by getting hands-on experience in the field of their choice. We work hard to try and encourage them to do their best and the teachers really work hard at getting them scholarships,” Mowdy said.

Being a former tech school student himself, Mowdy said he loves being at SBCT and has spent his whole career there. “I believe in this school and the students who go here. We have really great kids and its such a relaxed environment. There is not a lot of discipline issues at all. I’m always trying to build a bridge of trust with the students and have open communication with them.”

Mowdy, who graduated from Mississippi State University with a B.S. in Marketing, said he got involved in DECA, a business marketing student organization, and it gave me a purpose to excel and a passion for career technical education. Mowdy also received a A.A. degree in School Counseling from Alabama State University in Montgomery.

In all of the programs of study at SBCT, the students gain real-world experience you cannot get in a traditional classroom or a textbook.

In Health Sciences, the students have clinical experience in a local doctors office four days a week and get to see what it’s like dealing with real patients and not just textbook cases, Mowdy said.

And in Early Childhood Education, there is a Pre-K curriculum where students go to Robertsdale Elementary School eight days each semester to hep the teachers.

There is also a co-op program where students in their junior or senior year can go to school half a day and work half a day. “There are two options for the students, they can work 15 or 30 hours a week and they get paid for it. This gives them an opportunity to see if they like the field they have chosen and get real on-the-job training, “ Mowdy said.

There are 14 teachers at SBCT and all of them have come from industry jobs and have job training skills to share with the students. “This is the best part for the students because they get to hear about what to expect when they get out of school and get a job. They can use the knowledge the teacher gives them to help them when they get a real job, “ Mowdy said.

The newest addition to the tech school curriculum is the dual enrollment system with Faulkner State Community College and Ozark Enterprise Community College where students can get two college course credits while still in high school, Mowdy said.

“This is the second year we have done this and the students need a 2.5 grade point average to participate in the program. We offer classes in Welding, Building and Drafting and Automotive. The students can take college level courses and finish short-term certification before they graduate from high school,” Mowdy said. There are currently four students who are set to get their certifications from FSCC.

An aviation program is offered through Ozark Enterprise Community College and is FAA (Federal Aviation Association) regulated. They have a campus at Brookley Field in Mobile and they send an instructor over here to teach the class, Mowdy said.

In addition to the tech classes offered, there is also a Credit Recovery Program and an IMPACT program as well.

“The credit recovery program allows the student to make up for credits they have lost due to failing classes. How long it takes them to complete the program depends on the subject and it’s available to sophomores, juniors and seniors but we usually like to take seniors first since they need it the most,” Mowdy said.

The IMPACT program is for those students who are behind on credits and they can earn up to three credits by working on a computer-based program at their own pace. They can do this for one or two blocks a day and there are about 12 to 15 students participating in this, Mowdy said.

“We have a great school here and the teachers enjoy what they do and love the kids. We are going to be inducting 10 to 20 students into the National Technical Honor Society on March 17 and we are very proud of these students,” Mowdy said.