Every one of our programs builds life skills and can be applied to the real world, whether that be supporting them through college or as a career.”

Louisa Boatwright, Newport School Committee

Louisa Boatwright, a member of the Newport School Committee, has a strong passion for their Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program and truly believes in the benefit it has for the students. “Education is a foundation for your future; it sets you up for the rest of your life,” she said. “But to keep it interesting and meaningful, you have to be motivated by what you’re doing, and that’s a big part of what CTE does for students.”

Prior to her work with the CTE program at Rogers High School, Boatwright was part of a City of Newport finance review committee looking at cost savings and potential revenue increases, which is where she learned about the program. “I remember saying, ‘Wow! These need to be improved and brought up to higher quality and rigor, and we need to market them as a Career and Tech Center.’ So that’s what we did!”

She also recalls working with other CTE programs sound the state to gain knowledge and familiarity with the system as well as the grant proposal process that would go on to fund the program’s improvements. Their efforts paid off, and the success of the program can be seen in the number of students enrolling from other districts. As shown in a separate story about CTE programs throughout the East Bay, Newport is hosting 115 students from other school districts this year, and only 20 of its own students have chosen to enroll in other public school districts. As a result, the program has a net-positive tuition of nearly $1 million per yer.

A large part of what fuels Boatwright’s belief in this system is the exposure to the number of pathways it brings to students. “When it comes to your future, you really only know the careers that you’re exposed to through people you know — teachers, families, etcetera. In Newport, we have a very diverse population. Many are new immigrants to the U.S., and we’re a minority-white school system. So it’s really important to shed a light on the options available,” Boatwright said.

She also pointed to clear data that reveals elevated attendance and graduation rates within the CTE program compared to the traditional curriculum at Rogers High School. 

Newport currently offers nine CTE pathways, each equipped with partnerships with community businesses that support internships for students. Additionally, all students who have successfully completed their CTE program earn a certificate, which is nationally recognized with the intent of supporting their future. As Boatwright said, “Every one of our programs builds life skills and can be applied to the real world, whether that be supporting them through college or as a career.”

The belief Boatwright has in this program is not exclusive to her; Newport’s Career and Technical Education has received significant praise and recognition. Boatwright proudly said, “In Newport, we’ve gotten a lot of state and national awards. That’s something that I think really speaks for itself. The SkillsUSA awards, in particular, really demonstrate the quality of the programs and the great students we have.”