Monday, April 21, 2025
College isn’t the only pipeline to a stable future — and the Valley Stream Central High School district knows it. With a revamped approach to career and technical education, the district is building real-world pathways that aren’t just for show. These programs are structured, credentialed, and quietly re-engineering what high school can be in 2025.
Here are the top three things to know about what’s happening under the hood:
1. New in-district CTE programs offer hands-on career preparation
Valley Stream has significantly expanded its in-house CTE programming post-pandemic, turning what was once a modest offering into a district-wide priority. Longstanding anchor programs like cosmetology, now in its 55th year, and culinary arts, approaching three decades, have been joined by newer—and newly retooled—offerings like automotive technology, nursing assisting, and medical assisting.
The strategy? Make industry-relevant training not only accessible but also seamlessly integrated into the school day. These programs run on a block schedule for juniors and seniors, with classes taking place in purpose-built facilities—like the newly upgraded automotive garage at Central High School, where students don’t just read about engines, they tear them apart.
At the same time, students still have access to half-day specialized programs at Barry Tech through Nassau BOCES, where fields like aviation, veterinary assisting, dental tech, and construction trades are on offer. The district’s goal is maximum exposure: give students room to explore different careers before they commit—and make sure every pathway is treated with equal legitimacy.
2. A dedicated work-based learning coordinator is building bridges between students and employers
You can’t teach workplace culture from a textbook. That’s where Lori Rapapport-Rodriguez comes in. Hired in the 2023–2024 school year as the district’s first Work-Based Learning Coordinator, her job is to move CTE out of the classroom and into the real world.
One example is Valley Stream’s Trade Fair—a vocational spin on the traditional college fair. Instead of brochures from campuses, students connected with trade unions, military branches, local contractors, and hiring employers. The message was clear: this is about pathways, not pecking orders.
But Rodriguez isn’t stopping there. She’s placing students in hands-on internships and community events—like cosmetology students logging hours at local salons and culinary students volunteering at food festivals. She’s also laying the groundwork for deeper partnerships through outreach with the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce and local employers, with the long-term goal of building a community advisory board that keeps employer needs and student training in sync.
3. State certification, graduation pathways on the horizon
In education, certification equals credibility—and Valley Stream is going for it. The district is working to regain New York State CTE approval for its cosmetology and culinary arts programs. That stamp of approval does more than check a box: it opens the door for students to graduate through CTE, not just the traditional Regents route.
Here’s how it works: students enrolled in certified programs could qualify for graduation by combining career and technical coursework with a pared-down set of Regents exams. For cosmetology students, completing the two-year program—and logging enough work-based hours—means they’re eligible to sit for the state licensing exam in hairdressing. It’s not just a class—it’s a pipeline to licensure.
The district hopes to expand that model to culinary arts, with future credentialing that could directly connect students to jobs in commercial kitchens, restaurants, and food service companies.
Behind all this is a growing advisory council of business owners, educators, and civic leaders, tasked with keeping the district’s CTE programs aligned with industry needs and economic trends. As assistant superintendent Jennifer DiMaio puts it, the mission is twofold: “to offer immediate job opportunities for students who need them, and to foster exploration for those still figuring out their future.”
This isn’t a throwback to old-school vocational tracks—it’s a system upgrade. With more programs, real industry buy-in, and a focus on state-aligned credentials, Valley Stream is reengineering what a 21st-century public education can look like: practical, flexible, and job-ready by design.
Have an opinion on this article? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.
