Questar III BOCES offers CTE programs to Germantown juniors and seniors, along with those attending one of the other 22 districts in Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties that the BOCES services. CTE programs provide grade 11 and 12 students with the academic and technical skills necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners.

In this rapidly evolving technical age, our students need to leave school prepared to be successful in further education and to compete for the jobs of tomorrow. This means not only equipping students with the right skills and abilities, but also fostering creative problem solving, critical thinking, communication, and team work skills. CTE half-day programs are a great way for students to prepare for the future. Foundational to all CTE programs are rigorous program and content standards that offer high school students the opportunity to learn career skills while earning a Regents diploma. CTE programs provide students the opportunity to explore a career interest and develop specialized skills through hands-on learning and integrated academics. Students are actively engaged in obtaining the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to succeed in college and the workplace.

Germantown CSD students who choose to participate in Questar III’s CTE programs attend the Columbia-Greene Educational Center (CGEC) in Hudson. CTE programs available at CGEC are as follows:

• Automotive Technologies
• Aviation
• Nursing Assistant
• Construction Technologies
• Cosmetology
• Criminal Justice
• Culinary Arts
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) & Health Careers (seniors only)
• Heavy Equipment Operation & Maintenance (located at the former Durham Elementary School)
• HVAC & Renewable Energies
• Welding & Metal Fabrication

Resources:

• What is CTE?
• Explore Career & Technical Education at Questar III BOCES (video)
• CTE Course Catalog

Career Studies programs provide high school students with entry-level training in a technical area or trade at an alternative learning pace. These programs are designed to provide more customized career instruction and experience in a supportive learning environment. Career Studies programs have a small student-teacher ratio and are taught by certified teachers with substantial real-world experience in their given trade. The smaller class size provides an individualized course of instruction that helps the student to become successful in the world of work.

Germantown CSD students who choose to participate in Questar III’s Career Studies programs attend the Columbia-Greene Educational Center (CGEC) in Hudson. Career Studies programs available at CGEC are as follows:

• Automotive Services
• Building Trades
• Intro to Employment
• Intro to Food Services

New Visions students gain valuable insight into career options from a real-world perspective. A one-year, honors-level program, New Visions turns area businesses, healthcare facilities and government buildings into classrooms for highly motivated, academically successful high school seniors.

For 3.5 hours each day, New Visions students learn and explore through mentoring, internships, interactions with professionals, group discussion and creative projects, as well as more traditional methods. They also may earn college credit, and the program is a proven asset on transcripts and college applications.

Questar III currently offers six New Visions programs:

• STEM — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy
• Scientific Research & World Health — University at Albany’s Health Sciences Campus, Rensselaer
• Medical — Samaritan Hospital, Troy
• Visual & Performing Arts — The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy
• Pathways in Education — University at Albany’s Uptown Campus, Albany
• Emergency Preparedness, Informatics, Cyber and Homeland Security (EPICH) — University at Albany’s Main Campus, Albany