SALEM, Oregon — Two new Salem-Keizer Public Schools programs are gaining popularity among students and addressing worker shortages.
Roughly 60 students are enrolled in the aviation program at the district’s Career Technical Education Center (CTEC), and they are just starting to learn how to fly.
“This program is great,” said Jack Hanson, a high school senior in the district. He said in addition to being taught how to read the weather reports for the morning, the teens are also learning all the basics of flight controls.
It may be fun for Jack and his classmates, but the program is also needed to help fill a worker shortage in the industry.
“There's just an incredible need for pilots right now,” said James Hutches, an aviation instructor in the program.
Hutches said there’s never been a better time than now for people to get into the aviation industry.
“We're trying to take them all the way through their private pilot written exam, and so, they'll be eligible to take that exam at the end,” said Hutches.
Students elsewhere in the building are also excited, but about a different program being offered this year.
“Everyone wants to be here. It's just been great so far,” said Jasmine Miller, a high school junior in the district.
Jasmine, along with more than 50 other students, is enrolled in the brand-new behavioral health program. She said about a year and a half ago, she saw a play that inspired her to get into the mental health field. The play highlighted the work of a specialist who helped care for children in the hospital and showed how much of a difference the specialist made in kids’ lives.
Jasmine wants to do the same.
“When I saw this program, I knew that this would be a good way to explore all those career opportunities,” Jasmine said.
The hope is that the teens enrolled in the program will consider pursuing a career in the mental health industry.
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“We are in the midst of a huge shortage in the field. There are so many job openings that haven't been filled, especially since the pandemic. I think burnout in this field is […] a real prevalent thing,” said Erin Dannecker, an instructor and licensed clinical social worker.
She said the goal is to give students real world experience and strategies to prevent burnout.
Many of the students in the behavioral health program, including senior Rebecca Goertzen, want to make a difference.
“I struggled with my mental health. That was a big part of like [why] I wanted to help other people who struggle with that,” Rebecca said.
“They're really going to change Oregon behavioral health for the good,” said Dannecker.
The students have busy weeks. Many of them split time between their home high school and CTEC.
Right now, there are waitlists for both programs. Hutches said students are looking forward to January when they’re expecting to start using a hangar at the Salem airport. Hutches said it’ll be great for students to get immersed in the airport culture, and it’ll also be possible for entities like the U.S. Coast Guard to bring their aircraft to the airport, so students get the opportunity to be hands-on while learning about them.