A team of Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) students in the pre-apprenticeship program at El Centro Jr./Sr. High School has been recognized for its efforts in the recent Construction Industry Education Foundation Design-Build Competition. Sponsored by the Sacramento Regional Builders’ Exchange, competing teams got two days to build a 96-square-foot structure that was then reviewed by a panel of judges.
El Centro is a SCOE Juvenile Court School program at El Centro Jr./Sr. High School, inside the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility (Juvenile Hall). Competition organizers said this was the first time a team from a residential youth facility had participated. Led by Jack Maeberry, an instructor for Northern California Construction Training (NCCT), the El Centro team earned an Award of Merit for its hard work.
The NCCT pre-apprenticeship program at El Centro helps students learn the basics of the construction trade. Following their release, the program helps students join trade unions in fields like welding and carpentry.
The construction program promotes awareness of construction careers, with the Design-Build competition providing an opportunity for high school students to gain firsthand industry experience with materials, planning, teamwork, and craftsmanship. The support of the Sacramento County Probation Department makes it possible for SCOE to offer career technical education to these students.