By KIM ESTILL/Guest Columnist

Students enrolled in all eight Shelby County high schools have the opportunity to go to the School of Technology for all or part of their curriculum.

The Shelby County School of Technology offers a wonderful academic and vocational education for all high school students in the Shelby County School system. Students who are zoned for any of the eight high schools in Shelby County can choose to come to the School of Technology and take career technical courses from skilled educators in the following fields: welding, electrical technology, construction, landscape design, automotive technology, collision repair, cosmetology, public safety (police/fire/paramedics), Cisco networking, business and finance, culinary arts, health care (nursing) and computer-aided drafting.

Students can elect to come to the School of Technology for two hours each day for career technical training and take their core courses at their home schools, or students can elect to enroll in the CAPS program and stay on campus all day and take their core academic courses in addition to their career technical classes.

The School of Technology offers an excellent opportunity for high school students who want to get a jump start on their career or receive hands-on experience in a trade that interests them.

The instructors work together to build skilled workers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. Many of the students win state and national competitions in their field and most find jobs in the industry of their choice upon graduation.

The School of Technology is rapidly becoming nationally known and recognized as a model career technical center in both curriculum and competition.

Any high school student who is enrolled in the Shelby County School system and wants to be a part of this exciting educational opportunity is invited to bring their parents to Recruitment Open House on Thursday, Nov. 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Refreshments will be served and all guests will have the opportunity to visit the classrooms to speak with the teachers and watch current students engaged in hands-on activities.

Kim Estill is the English teacher at the School of Technology in Columbiana.