Vocational Training

This rendering shows what the front of the future Collinsville Area Vocational Center will look like. Construction will begin in early 2025, and administrators hope to have the new building ready for the fall 2026 semester.

Education

Here’s what a new $21.5 million career and tech ed building in Collinsville will look like

Kelly Smits

The 46,000-square-foot facility will be an expansion of the Collinsville Area Vocational Center, which was opened in 1971 and currently provides students from 10 area high schools with dual-credit career training and skill development.

A Black woman looks at herself in the reflection of a mirror after getting her hair done at the St. Louis County Jail.

Law & Order

How a jail beauty school in St. Louis helps women find purpose after incarceration

Marissanne Lewis-Thompson

The cohort of female detainees at the St. Louis County Jail are participating in Missouri's only hands-on beauty training program for those who are incarcerated.

Outside the Collinsville Area Vocational Center in Collinsville, Ill. on Sept. 21, 2023. The CAVC provides vocational training for fields like auto repairs, precision machining, certified nursing and dental assisting.

Education

What will Collinsville's vocational center get with a $25 million state grant?

Kelly Smits

The longtime program is housed on the western side of Collinsville's high school and provides vocational training in a wide variety of trades to juniors and seniors from nine area high schools.

Damond Calhoun, a junior at Clyde Miller Career Academy in St. Louis, prepares a veggie stir fry in the school's teaching kitchen while fellow junior Airyana Polk looks on. Gov. Mike Parson voiced his support for vocational training programs in Missouri schools during a visit to Clyde Miller on Thursday.

Education

Job training programs work but need more funding, St. Louis officials tell Parson

Sarah Fentem

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday visited Clyde Miller Career Academy in St. Louis, which offers training in hospitality, manufacturing and other fields besides preparing students for college. The governor said he'd like to see more of Missouri's high schools offer career training to help fill the state's nearly 150,000 open jobs.

Education

Belleville District 201’s vocational career center is starting to take shape

Megan Valley

The city bought the 100,000 square-foot facility last June to establish the center which will offer programs in welding, carpentry, construction and many other trades.