Career Connected Learning
May 7, 2025
Preparing Students for High-Demand Careers in Manufacturing Through CAD/CAM Technology
Thanks to a CTE Equipment Mini-Grant from Resource Training & Solutions, Cambridge-Isanti Schools is equipping students with the skills and tools needed to thrive in today’s advanced manufacturing industry. With the purchase of 30 high-performance laptops, the district has expanded its CTE curriculum to include cutting-edge CAD/CAM instruction across its woodworking and machining courses.
Empowering Students with Real-World Skills
Led by welding teacher Greg Doom, the CTE program is now able to fully integrate CAD/CAM into classroom learning. Students in grades 9–12 are gaining hands-on experience designing engineered parts, generating tool paths, setting up CNC machines, and inspecting finished projects—critical skills for modern manufacturing careers.
“These laptops allow our students to design and fabricate projects using the same technologies they’ll encounter in industry,” said Doom. “We’re giving them a real preview of what a future in manufacturing could look like.”
A Community-Driven Approach to Workforce Readiness
The expansion of CAD/CAM training was guided by input from the district’s trades and industry advisory committee, which identified a growing need for students to be fluent in CNC and design software. With more than 500 students expected to participate by June 2025, the initiative is already having a wide-reaching impact.
Building Career Awareness and Confidence
The equipment not only enhances instruction—it also opens students’ eyes to the many local career opportunities in manufacturing. By engaging with high-tech tools in a classroom setting, students can see themselves succeeding in careers that exist right in their own community.
Lasting Impact Through Local Investment
With support from the CTE Mini-Grant, Cambridge-Isanti Schools is bridging the gap between education and workforce demands—giving students a clear, hands-on pathway into high-demand, high-tech careers.
More About CTE Mini-Grants
Resource Training & Solutions, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education and other educational service cooperatives, provides CTE Mini-Grants to support career and technical education initiatives within our nine-county region. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help schools enhance hands-on learning opportunities, connect students to local industry partners, and support educators pursuing CTE licensure.
Eligible projects include job shadowing programs, new CTE courses, industry tours, internships, apprenticeships, teacher externships, and more. To qualify, projects must include at least one high school and a business or higher education partner while addressing local workforce needs.
For more information about CTE Mini-Grants, contact:
Alison Orgaard, CTE Manager
📧 aorgaard@resourcecoop-mn.gov
📞 (320) 266-5640
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