Parents get look at classrooms, labs

GETAWAY — Collins Career Technical Center has a new class of high school students coming in and, on Thursday, parents arrived to see what their children’s educational environment will be like.

An open house took place at the vocational school, with instructors giving families a tour of the classrooms and labs.

Andrea Zaph, of the school’s health academy, said this takes place at the beginning of every school year.

“They get to meet the teachers, see all the equipment and really know the training and credentials involved,” she said.

Collins is host to high school juniors and seniors, learning everything from nursing to automotive skills.

Steve Crawford is an instructor to 15 students in the school’s agriculture program and 15 in the agri-science program.

“We operate and maintain a 100-acre farm about 10 minutes from Collins,” he said. “We have sheep, horses and small animals like rabbits and chickens.”

He said the students will learn about animal science, farm management, plant science and wildlife management.

In the cosmetology program, Aaron Dillard arrived with his daughter, Brooklyn, who is enrolled in her first year.

They met with Kim Gleichauf, the instructor for high school students in the program, who showed them around the class and lab rooms.

She said the school is working to integrate academics into the lab courses.
She also showed them the school’s salon.

“The name of the salon is “New Beginnings,’” she said. “Because every student gets a new beginning here.”

Students returned to class at CCTC on Wednesday. About 475 high school students are enrolled in programs at the school.