The CTE Academy is proud to recognize Tessa Weiland, a senior from Washington High School, as a recipient of the “See the Vision” Award. 👏✨
Tessa consistently demonstrates an exceptional level of responsibility and dependability. Her work is always completed on time and reflects strong attention to detail and a commitment to doing things the right way. She approaches every assignment with integrity and seriousness, displaying a level of maturity well beyond her years. 📚
Equally impressive are the qualities she brings to the classroom each day. Tessa is respectful, kind, and genuinely thoughtful in her interactions with others. She treats both classmates and instructors with courtesy and compassion, exemplifying the character and professionalism we hope to see in future healthcare professionals. 🩺💙
Tessa is pictured with her Health Careers teacher, Mrs. Kennedy, who shared:
"For her outstanding academic achievement, unwavering work ethic, and the positive example she sets for others, Tessa truly embodies the spirit of the 'See the Vision' Award."
Congratulations, Tessa! We are proud of you and excited to see where your future takes you. 🌟
#SeeTheVision #CTEAcademy #HealthCareers #FutureHealthcareProfessionals #StudentSuccess #CTEProud #SiouxFallsSchools #LeadershipInAction #FutureReady 🩺✨

Please help us congratulate Alexis Van Hill, a senior from Washington High School and a standout student in the CTE Academy of Finance, as our See the Vision Award winner! 🎉
Throughout her time in the Academy, Alexis has taken full advantage of the opportunities available, completing courses including Accounting, Introduction to Financial Services, Banking & Credit, and Accounting II. 📊💼
Alexis demonstrates resilience, discipline, and a strong commitment to personal growth. She approaches challenges with confidence and determination while continually striving to improve academically and professionally. She is also known for supporting her classmates, stepping into leadership roles during group work, and helping create a positive and collaborative learning environment. 🤝📚
Her compassion, teamwork, and communication skills contribute greatly to the strong culture within the Academy. With a strong work ethic and natural leadership ability, Alexis truly embodies what it means to “See the Vision” of who you can become at CTE. ✨
Congratulations, Alexis! We are proud of you and excited to see where your future takes you! 👏
#SeeTheVision #CTEAcademy #AcademyOfFinance #FutureLeaders #CTEProud #SiouxFallsSchools #StudentSuccess #FutureInFinance #CareerReady #LeadershipInAction

Come tour the 2026 CTE Academy student-built home and see the craftsmanship, skills, and talent our students have poured into every detail! From the modern kitchen to the open-concept living space—this is one you won’t want to miss 👀
📍 1312 N Career Ave, Sioux Falls, SD
🗓 Open House Dates & Times:
🔹 April 29 | 4–6 PM
🔹 May 3 | 2–4 PM
🔹 May 7 | 4–6 PM
🔹 May 13 | 4–6 PM
🔹 May 16 | 2–4 PM
🔹 May 20 | 4–6 PM → AUCTION TO FOLLOW! 🔨
Whether you’re house-hunting, supporting CTE education, or just love great design—stop by and check it out!
📩 Questions? Contact carter.olson@k12.sd.us
#CTEAcademy #StudentBuilt #OpenHouse #FutureReady #SiouxFallsHomes #CTEProud #HandsOnLearning 🛠️🏠

Our Academy of Finance students had the opportunity to learn from Greg Garry from BanCorp about the Financial Market and the skills needed to succeed in business.
Some key takeaways from today’s discussion:
🔹 Real experience comes from working with people outside your home and comfort zone
🔹 We truly learn by explaining and applying what we know
🔹 Risk = Trade Off — every decision has opportunity and consequence
🔹 AI doesn’t run businesses… people do
🔹 The importance of asking questions, communicating effectively, and seeing multiple perspectives
Thank you, Greg, for sharing your time and insights with our students!
#AcademyOfFinance #AOF #CareerConnected #FutureBusinessLeaders #CTEAcademy #FinancialLiteracy #GuestSpeaker #CTEProud #LearningFromProfessionals 📈

Our Digital Media students at CTE celebrated by exploring how music plays a powerful role in media and storytelling. From learning how sound influences emotion in videos to experimenting with audio editing and production, students discovered how music can transform digital content.
Music is more than just something we hear—it helps tell stories, create atmosphere, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways. Our students had a great time getting creative and seeing how sound design enhances the media we experience every day.
Great work to our Digital Media students for celebrating Music in Our Schools Month through creativity and innovation! 🎧🎥
#MusicInOurSchoolsMonth #CTE #DigitalMedia #CreativeCareers #HandsOnLearning #CTEProud









Our Habitat for Humanity house is officially completed on our students’ end, and we couldn’t be more proud of the work they’ve put into this build. From framing to finishing touches, students gained valuable hands-on experience throughout the entire project.
Over at the CTE House, the cabinets are officially going in, and the covered porch is wrapping up! It’s exciting to see both projects coming together and to watch our students’ hard work turn into real homes.
Great work to our talented students and instructors who made these projects possible! 👏
#CTE #Carpentry #HabitatForHumanity #CTEHouse #SkilledTrades #HandsOnLearning #BuildingTheFuture





A huge thank you to our AOF Advisory Board Member Dawn Uthe, Human Resource Director at Cars For Sale, for investing in our students!
Dawn spent time helping prepare students for our upcoming AOF Internship Interview Day in April by covering:
✔️ How to apply for jobs
✔️ Interview tips and professionalism
✔️ Resume and cover letter feedback
✔️ What employers are really looking for
Real-world insight from industry professionals makes all the difference as our students get ready to step into the workforce. We are so grateful for community partners like Dawn who help bridge the gap between classroom learning and career success!
#AcademyOfFinance #AOF #CareerReady #InternshipPrep #WorkforceDevelopment

We had the opportunity to learn from Derek Franken, Professor of Accounting & Finance at the University of South Dakota!
Students explored how to analyze publicly traded companies using the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission website (SEC.gov) — diving into real financial data like:
✔️ Inventory
✔️ Accounts Receivable
✔️ Debt Ratio
✔️ Equity Ratio
✔️ And more!
Learning how to interpret these metrics gives our students real-world insight into how businesses operate, perform, and make financial decisions. This is hands-on finance at its best! 💰📈
Thank you, Professor Franken, for helping our students connect classroom concepts to real-world application!
#AcademyOfFinance #CTEAcademy #FutureBusinessLeaders #FinancialLiteracy #RealWorldLearning #CTEProud

From hands-on Skills Saturdays at Sanford Health to learning from our recent guest speaker Jed, an athletic trainer, our students are gaining real-world experience that goes beyond the classroom.
At Sanford, they’ve been sharpening critical EMT skills, building confidence, and applying what they’ve learned in high-pressure scenarios. Hearing from an athletic trainer also gave them great insight into injury assessment, on-field emergencies, and interdisciplinary teamwork.
We love seeing our students take advantage of every opportunity to grow and prepare for the NREMT and their future careers in emergency medicine! 💪
#CTEAcademy #EMTStudents #SkillsSaturday #FutureFirstResponders #HandsOnLearning #CTEProud



Carpentry is putting the finishing touches on the 2026 CTE Academy student-built home — painting is wrapping up this week and it’s all coming together beautifully! 🙌
Every brushstroke represents the craftsmanship, teamwork, and pride our students have poured into this project. We are getting so close to Open House and can’t wait for you to see it!
Stay tuned for final details and sneak peeks 👀
#CTEAcademy #Carpentry #StudentBuilt #OpenHouseReady #HandsOnLearning #CTEProud 🛠️🎨

Thanks to Aaron Severson, Wells Fargo Financial Advisor, for presenting to our students on the Stock Market.
Students learned the difference between a Bull Market (market is up) and a Bear Market (down 20% or more), and the importance of time in the market vs. trying to time the market.
Now the fun begins! Students are participating in a Stock Market Game from Black Hills State University through April 17th — each student starts with $100,000 to invest! 💸📊
#CTEMonth #AOF #FinancialEducation #StockMarket #FutureInvestors #CareerReady #CTEWorks


🎉 CTE Month Staff Shout-Out! 🎉
💬 “My daughter had Mrs. Kelsch as her Baking and Pastries teacher and loved the entire experience. She is now taking Health Careers and enjoying it just as much. She hopes to pursue a medical career, and these opportunities have been fantastic. I am so thankful!”
"This is my daughter’s first class in the school district at CTE and both Chef Kelsch and Chef Whempner have motivated, encouraged, and helped unlock my daughter’s passion for cooking. The program has been amazing with guest speakers, food challenges and fun field trips to restaurants and businesses. I highly recommend CTE classes to anyone looking for a specific career interest."
Thank you, Mrs. Kelsch and Mrs. Whempner, for helping students explore their interests and discover future career paths! 👏
#CTEMonth #CTEWorks #StudentSuccess #CareerExploration #HealthCareCareers #BakingAndPastries


Thanks to Matthew Heard, USD Professor of Business, for presenting to our students on Ethics and Social Responsibilities.
Students are gearing up for AOF Day at USD on Monday, April 20th, where they’ll meet and learn from professors across the Beacom School of Business! 👏
#CTEMonth #AOF #BusinessEducation #FutureLeaders #CareerReady #CTEWorks

Mr. Olson – Carpentry Instructor
💬 “My son had a great experience and learned how to build a house.”
💬 “My oldest son is enjoying construction, actually learning, and will use all the knowledge gained to help him when he graduates. It gives him a good idea of what is to come while building a house.”
Thank you, Mr. Olson, for giving students hands-on experience and preparing them for real-world construction careers! 👏
#CTEMonth #CTEWorks #ConstructionCareers #StudentSuccess #HandsOnLearning #CareerReady #FutureTrades

Health Careers Teachers: Mrs. Drummond, Mrs. Kennedy, and Mrs. Even
💬 “My daughter will be pursuing a nursing degree, and her Health Careers class has been a great opportunity for her to explore the field.”
💬 “My oldest child graduated in 2025 and loved her Health Careers course. The teacher was awesome!”
💬 “My oldest daughter decided on a nursing career after taking Biomed & Health Careers. She graduates from college this spring and already has a job lined up. Those classes really guided her in that direction.”
💬 “My oldest took the Health Careers class that led to CNA certification. It helped her develop an understanding of the medical profession and allowed her to work at the hospital while in school in the profession she is ultimately going to be in.”
Thank you to our Health Careers teachers for inspiring students and opening doors to real-world healthcare careers! 👏
#CTEMonth #CTEWorks #HealthCareCareers #FutureNurses #StudentSuccess #CareerExploration #CNA #HandsOnLearning







We are READY FOR PAINT and our siding is coming along amazingly! 🙌 The house is really starting to take shape, and all the hard work is paying off.
Our students are gaining real-world construction experience every single day — from measuring and installing to perfecting the finishing touches.
Stay tuned for more updates as we bring this project to life! 👷♂️✨
#CTE #Carpentry #BuildingTheFuture #HandsOnLearning #CTEAcademy





Tonight, he was named the 38th Annual Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year for the Sioux Falls School District! 👏
Now in his 14th year with the district and a proud 24-year U.S. Army veteran, Mr. McCaulsky is known for building a hands-on, high-expectation classroom where students rebuild engines, tackle real-world problems, and gain the confidence they need to succeed in the automotive industry.
His leadership, dedication, and commitment to student success truly set the standard.
Congratulations, Mr. McCaulsky — we are so proud of you! 🎉
#TeacherOfTheYear #CTEAcademy #HandsOnLearning #SiouxFallsSD

🎉 In honor of CTE Month! 🎉
Let’s take a moment to give a shout-out to our amazing CTE staff, straight from our parents!
💬 “My child got an internship this past summer through her finance class and Mrs. Brunken.”
"My son loves Accounting with Penny Brunken at the SFSD CTE Academy!"
Thank you, Mrs. Brunken, for creating real-world opportunities that make a lasting impact on students! 👏
#CTEMonth #CTEWorks #CareerReady #ParentShoutOut #RealWorldLearning #AcademyOfFinance

Mr. Benshoof – Welding Instructor
💬 “My child had no idea about welding, took the class, and now loves it! They may even want to pursue it as a career.”
"We had excellent experiences with the welding and automotive program. Our older son took as many classes as he could and although he isn't a welder or an auto mechanic, he uses his knowledge very frequently to repair things/fix things/maintain things."
Thank you, Mr. Benshoof, for opening doors to new skills and inspiring students to explore future careers! 👏
#CTEMonth #CTEWorks #WeldingCareers #CareerExploration #StudentSuccess #HandsOnLearning #FutureTrades



We are proud to recognize Maleiah Spindler, a 12th grade student from Jefferson High School, as a recipient of the “See the Vision” Award in her classes! 👏
Maleiah exemplifies the values of the Academy of Finance through her exceptional work ethic, integrity, and dedication to learning. She consistently shows grit, perseverance, and determination — tackling challenges with maturity and a strong drive to succeed. 💼📚
Her leadership in group projects and active participation in class have made a lasting, positive impact on her peers and the entire learning environment. Maleiah’s commitment to personal growth and career readiness truly reflects the spirit of the program.
Maleiah, we wish you the very best at the University of Kansas! 💙❤️ Your work ethic, leadership, and commitment to excellence will position you to be an outstanding business leader — now and for years to come.
Congratulations! 🎉
#SeeTheVision #AcademyOfFinance #StudentSuccess #FutureBusinessLeader #CTEProud
