122 Granite Street, Leominster, MA 01453
Phone: (978) 534-7735
Fax: (978) 537-7934
David Fiandaca - Director
Director's Message
The Center for Technical Education at Leominster High School provides one of the most exciting educational opportunities available in Massachusetts. It is a technology center that has serviced the educational needs of young adults for over sixty years. We currently have twelve Chapter 74 approved program offerings and our own dedicated academic staff of twenty nine teachers that works closely with our twenty eight vocational instructors to provide a high quality well-rounded vocational technical education that prepares our students for college enrollment, technical school enrollment, and/or entry level employment opportunities as semi-skilled apprentices.

Health Occupations, Computer Aided Drafting, and Electronics are the three programs we define as “half-day” programs. Students in these programs have two “shop” classes each day and four full-time academic classes. In Health, during “shop” time, students spend approximately 50% of their time participating in internships at schools, hospitals, and day care centers. Students also earn their Certified Nursing Assistant certificates in their junior year. Each one of our fifteen health occupation graduates from 2007 is now matriculating at local colleges pursuing higher degrees in the health field. In Computer Aided Drafting and Electronics, students spend their “shop” time in computer class utilizing architectural and engineering design software to help prepare them for secondary education in engineering and design careers. Vocational staff members also offer “Project Lead the Way”, a focused four- course curriculum for those students committed to following an engineering career after graduation from high school. Project Lead the Way is offered to academic students not enrolled in CTE but who still aspire to get this invaluable training.

Our other nine programs are referred to as “A/B week” programs because in their junior and senior years, students will have their vocational/technical training one week and their academic training the next week. Programs operating on this schedule are Auto Technology, Auto Collision, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, Electrical, Graphic Arts, HVAC/R, Machine Technology, and Plumbing. Students in these programs receive valuable “hands – on” training while building houses, repairing and servicing automobiles, preparing and serving food, designing and mass producing school based documents and manuals and designing and tooling machine parts used in our robotics program. Students can also earn the privilege of participating in a cooperative learning program established with local businesses where they can replace their usual vocational training with actual employment with an approved, insured employer. In addition, students earn certificates (EPA certificate in HVAC/R) and accumulate hours toward their attainment of licenses (Plumbing and Electrical) in their chosen fields.

Four new initiatives that are taking place this year at CTE are as follows:
• Each junior will earn a 10 – hour OSHA safety card.
• Each student will be responsible for creating his/her own portfolio, an on - going collection of each individual students work efforts.
• Each student, with assistance from our guidance staff, will develop their own career plan.
• Upon approval of the school committee and superintendent, we hope to offer an entrepreneurship course entitled “How to Start and Operate Your Own Small Business.” The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship has already trained two of our instructors during the summer to teach this future course.

Plans and discussions are also taking place to obtain Chapter 74 approval for the TV broadcast and production program that is currently part of the “FAME” program. Furthermore, we are investigating the possibility of developing a biotechnology program in collaboration with Bristol/Meyer Squibb and Mt. Wachusett Community College.

As you can see, CTE has a wide diversity of vocational/technical programs to offer the students. Interested parents and students should familiarize themselves with the CTE admissions policy also found on this web site. We welcome questions and post all our upcoming events on a weekly basis. If there is any more information you wish to obtain, please call us at 978-534-7735.

Finally, as always, if you are interested in having a good meal prepared and served by our culinary arts students and staff, please visit our “Appleseeds” Restaurant which is open from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Tuesday through Friday.

With hopes that all students and parents enjoy a rewarding and successful school year, I remain respectfully yours.

David Fiandaca
Director for Center of Technical Education