Forging a Future in Career and Technical Education

A student in a hat and black sweatshirt pushes a board through a circular saw

At Winona Area Public Schools, we have an obligation to prepare our students for life after graduation, no matter the path. With the support of local businesses and manufacturers, we are in the process of rebuilding and reimagining our career and technical education programming to give our students real-world experience and prepare them to enter the workforce after graduation.

This initiative, called "Forging a Future," has leaned on the expertise, resources and oppourtinites provided by community-oriented individuals in local businesses and organizations.

Foundation for WAPS raises $326K for Forging a Future

A group of people stand holding a big check and other signs in a high school woodshop

The Foundation for Winona Area Public Schools is pleased to announce $326,000 was raised for Industrial Technology initiatives at Winona Area Public Schools from the Foundation’s recent Forging a Future campaign.

The campaign supported the District’s long-term goal of raising $540,000 to advance Industrial Tech pathways, specifically in the areas of manufacturing, engineering, construction, robotics, and mechatronics. Industrial Tech allows hands-on learning where students use tools, machinery, and computer systems to solve problems and build solutions. A Forging a Future fund will remain open at the Foundation for WAPS to accept tax-deductible donations for the program.

MORE INFORMATION

What is Forging a Future?

Growth Areas in 2025-26

Forging a Future has already led to some noticeable improvements in CTE programming at WAPS, including:

Expansion into the middle school and an additional CTE teaching position
Mechatronics courses for college credit, thanks to a partnership with MSC Southeast
A firefighter class under the direction of Winona firefighter Brad Barrientos
Additional opportunities for our students to work or shadow at local manufacturers in Winona
A Geometry in Construction course, set to begin next year, that will have aspects of math and woodworking, and will be co-taught by CTE teacher Jerry Benedict and math teacher Travis Steine

Advisory Board

Several community members have offered to serve on an advisory board that guides WAPS administrators, teachers and school board members in making decisions about the program. The organizations represented include:

Alliant Castings
Ashley Furniture
Avient
Benchmark
Celanese
Denzer Pallets
Fastenal
MSC Southeast
Midwest Metal Products
Miller Ingenuity
Mississippi Welding Supply
Winona Chamber of Commerce
Syensqo

Jerry Benedict

Career and Technical Education Teacher

Winona Senior High School

Jeremy Graves

Technology Instructional Coach, District Media Coordinator

Winona Senior High School

School: (507)494-1537

Julie Winegar