Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, recognized National Public Schools Week, which runs from February 21-25, by touring the Camden County Technical School in Pennsauken, NJ, with Superintendent Pat Fitzgerald and Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young.

The American Rescue Plan Congressman Norcross helped pass secured over $236 million for New Jersey’s 1^st Congressional District K-12 schools to stay open safely and make up for lost learning time. Nationwide, the American Rescue Plan provided $130 billion for schools to stay open, and an additional $10 billion to help schools conduct COVID-19 testing for students and staff.

“As a proud product of New Jersey public schools and an electrician by trade, I couldn’t be happier to celebrate the technical programs that are equipping current students with the skills they need to pursue careers in the skilled vocations,” said Congressman Norcross. “Different people need different educational paths. I didn’t go the traditional route. I pursued a registered apprenticeship, learned hands-on, and had a fulfilling career. New Jersey public school students enrolled in technical schools are fortunate to have these career-ready skills when they graduate high school.”

Congressman Norcross worked as an electrician for over 40 years and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) trade union. In Congress, he has stayed true to his skilled trade roots, co-founding the Labor Caucus and serving as the Vice Chair for Labor for the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

“The in-depth career training programs at CCTS, along with our rigorous academic courses and character education initiatives, prepare our students for employable, lucrative careers and for life,” said Superintendent Pat Fitzgerald. “I am very proud to share that throughout our district’s 90+ year history, we have thousands of CCTS successful graduates who continued in their chosen career paths. We have graduates who own their own businesses and/or work as master electricians, master plumbers, construction managers, and chefs. Others have attended college and pursued advanced degrees or entered the military with skills.”

“Camden County Technical Schools have always done an incredible job at setting up our young people for success. The students who move through the programs at CCTS are taught with skills that will allow them to flourish in their professional careers,” said Commissioner Young. “As a member of a trade union, I’m thrilled to have the chance to meet with the students currently enrolled in these programs to talk with them about their plans to work in the vocations once they graduate from high school.”

New Jersey’s 21 county vocational-technical school districts have become national models for preparing high school students for college and careers in the 21st century. They are the schools of choice for more than 31,000 students who want to be career-ready right out of high school. Today’s career and technical education programs link rigorous academics, technical knowledge, and real-world experience to better prepare high school students for post-secondary studies and challenging careers.

View pictures of the tour here.