Building Futures: How Murray High CTE is Connecting Students to High-Demand Skilled Trades
Across the nation, industries from residential construction to mechanical engineering are navigating a massive shift: as experienced workers reach retirement age, demand for skilled trade professionals has surged. For high school students, this translates into unprecedented opportunities for high-paying, low-debt, and fulfilling careers.
At Murray High School, leaders in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) departments are focused on making sure Murray students see those opportunities clearly—and get the hands-on experience needed to seize them.
College Credit Before Graduation: Building a Real House
While national headlines often focus on the growing gap in trade training, Murray High already boasts a standout cornerstone program in construction management led by teacher Jake Bird.
Through the district’s home-building capstone course, students don't just study construction principles in a textbook—they actively construct a residential home from the ground up.
"We have a great program where we build a home and offer concurrent enrollment credit," shares Chantel Olsen, Murray City School District CTE Coordinator. Students in the capstone course can earn up to 18 college credits in Construction Management, coursework that transfers directly to Utah Valley University (UVU) and Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) before they even cross the high school graduation stage.
To build foundational skills early, the district offers Manufacturing Technology at the junior high level, giving middle schoolers exposure to tools, design, and practical fabrication alongside Murray High's long-standing construction offerings.
Reframing the Trades: From Job to Business Ownership
A major priority for district leaders is shifting long-held mindsets about technical paths. CTE educators actively counsel students and families on the diverse, highly lucrative career trajectories available within the trades.
To help students map their natural talents directly to future opportunities, the district utilizes YouScience, an aptitude-based platform that helps youth align their individual strengths with high-paying trade careers and educational pathways.
"We highly encourage and highlight the many paths in trades—from the entrepreneurship potential of running a small business with skills like concrete or framing, to working for established companies offering pensions and stability, to moving into management roles like foreman or estimator," says Olsen. "This type of marketing appeals to students at all levels of capability and motivation."
Murray students also showcase their craftsmanship through SkillsUSA, a nationwide Career and Technical Student Organization where Spartans compete in trade demonstrations and lead community service projects.
Looking to the future, Olsen hopes to celebrate these career commitments even more visibly—such as hosting a college-style "Signing Day" for students committing to trade pathways and community building projects.
Bridging Classrooms to Local Industry
Connecting classroom instruction to local workforce demand is where Work-Based Learning Coordinator Amber Rydalch comes in. While newly stepping into her role, Rydalch is actively working to establish fresh pipelines with valley trade organizations.
Recently, Murray High construction students attended the Associated General Contractors (AGC) "We Build" exploration fair at SLCC, gaining direct exposure to industry leaders, equipment, and apprenticeships. Moving forward, WBL plans to expand partnerships beyond healthcare staples like Intermountain Health (IHC) to include outreach with local electrical, plumbing, and HVAC apprenticeship academies like the IBEW and JATC.
An Open Invitation to Local Murray Businesses
To build robust internships and job-shadowing pipelines, Murray High is turning to its local business community.
"We are actively working on building connections with local trade businesses to create opportunities for our students," says Rydalch. "Our goal is to partner with local trade companies to provide high schoolers with valuable, hands-on workplace learning. We strongly encourage interested local trade businesses to reach out and connect with us as we develop these student internship pathways."
Get Involved: Local trade employers interested in hosting student interns, attending career days, or partnering with Murray High Work-Based Learning can contact WBL Coordinator Amber Rydalch directly at arydalch@murrayschools.org.