Mammoth High School - Building & Construction Trades: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is an educational approach that blends academic knowledge with practical, hands-on training to prepare students for specific career paths and the modern workforce. CTE—formerly known as vocational education—spans middle schools, high schools, and postsecondary institutions.

Participating in Career and Technical Education (CTE) equips students with practical, hands-on experience using industry-standard tools long before they graduate. Rather than focusing solely on theory, it uses real-world applications to teach vital industries. By earning recognized credentials and certifications throughout their training, graduates enter the workforce fully prepared, significantly minimizing the need for initial on-the-job training. Ultimately, this creates flexible pathways to success, allowing students to seamlessly launch into high-wage careers, apprenticeships, or military service, or build upon their skills by pursuing higher education.

Key Benefits of CTE

Practical Skills: Students train with industry-standard tools and gain direct, hands-on experience before graduation.

Employability: Programs often lead to recognized certifications or credentials, reducing the need for extensive on-the-job training.

Dual Pathways: Many CTE participants successfully transition directly into high-wage jobs, apprenticeships, or military service, while others use it as a stepping stone to higher education.

Under the leadership of Mike Van Winkle, Mammoth High School has fully embraced this initiative. Below, explore the key benefits of the program, the students we serve, and how MMCF’s grant empowers local youth with essential life skills to help them thrive.

About Mammoth High School CTE Program

Mammoth High School's Construction Trades program provides students with hands-on Career and Technical Education (CTE) experiences designed to prepare them for employment, postsecondary education, apprenticeships, and careers in the Building and Construction Trades.

The program's "Minds-On, Hands-On" curriculum, led by instructor Mike Van Winkle, covers the full spectrum of building science and trade skills, including:

• Blueprint reading, measurement, and layout

• Structural construction using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

• Electrical, plumbing, and interior/exterior finishing

• Essential workplace skills, including teamwork, safety, and project management

The centerpiece of the three-tier CTE program is the Work Force Modular Tiny House Build. Students collaborate to design and construct a high-performance, all-electric modular home. This flagship project gives students a direct bridge to careers in the Building and Construction Trades while actively addressing broader workforce development and housing needs across the Eastern Sierra.

What the program provided to the youth

MMCF support enabled 32 students to transition classroom theory into authentic, real-world application through hands-on building initiatives—most notably the ambitious Workforce Tiny House.1 project.

Core Focus Areas & Outcomes

• Authentic CTE Experience: Students logged 153 instructional hours and completed 15–20 projects each, utilizing grant-funded tools and equipment. 80% achieved proficiency in core competencies.

• Workforce Readiness: Hands-on training spanned technical skills (framing, electrical, plumbing, blueprint reading) and essential workplace behaviors (jobsite safety, team communication, adaptive problem-solving).

• Applied Academics: Integrated math, science, and technical knowledge directly into full-scale fabrication and finishing.

• Career Pathway Awareness: Expanded exposure across 11 trade disciplines—including carpentry, HVAC, architecture, and construction management. 100% of participants gained actionable awareness of postsecondary trade careers and apprenticeships.

  
  

The impact MMCF’s Grant had on community youth

“The MMCF grant allowed the program to purchase materials and resources that would otherwise have been unavailable or significantly limited. Because Construction Trades education depends upon students physically working with materials and tools, funding has a direct relationship to student outcomes. Each dollar invested in materials and equipment creates an opportunity for students to practice a real construction skill. The grant therefore supported not only the purchase of physical resources, but also increased student contact hours, hands-on practice, skill development, career awareness, and workforce preparation.”

Gratitude for MMCF

The grant directly supplied students with industry-standard tools, materials, and educational supplies. This financial support allowed 32 students across three teaching periods to log roughly 135 hours each of authentic, hands-on trade experience—boasting an incredible 93% retention rate.

Thanks to crucial grant funding from the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation (MMCF), Mammoth High School’s Construction Trades program is turning high school classrooms into active job sites.

MMCF’s continued investment ensures local youth graduate with the real-world skills, adaptability, and confidence needed to support the regional economy.