September 2025 article
Preparing Students for Careers and Life
By Principal Kory Kath, Owatonna High School
Owatonna High School is committed to ensuring students are career ready! Even more, many of our students are already career connected. Designed within our walls at the new high school, the fields of study crafted by our incredible staff allow students to engage in career exploration and to accelerate their career potential. Examples include our CNA course, Construction Technology, and Introduction to Education.
Health occupations are in demand in every community. Owatonna High School is providing students with the opportunity to be Certified Nursing Assistants in their junior and senior year. Through our partnership with Riverland College, students in the CNA course learn the critical role of providing person-centered care to patients, residents, and clients in various healthcare settings. Many students begin their nursing careers in this role, with some choosing to advance their credentials while others stay in this career long-term. The course is a critical component of our health occupations pathway that leads to certification, employment and a start to many careers in healthcare.
Students in our construction technology program are hands-on in learning the tools, techniques, equipment and materials used in the construction industry to improve efficiency, safety, and productivity. We have a strong partnership with Two Rivers Habitat for Humanity where our students are putting their learning to work in building homes for families and veterans in our community. This partnership affords real-world learning and problem solving that brings solutions to housing needs in Owatonna, while preparing our students for a career in construction.
Highly qualified teachers with a passion for students are an integral need in all schools and communities. We are “growing our own” here at Owatonna High School within our Introduction to Education Course, where students are beginning their journey to being educators in classrooms. Students learn effective communication, strategies, and practical applications that set a foundation for teaching and implement it within classrooms at Owatonna Public Schools while earning college credit towards a degree in education. They are learning by doing and beginning their career journey!
These are only three of the many fields of study that provide a pathway to career readiness for our students at Owatonna High School. We are proud of the resources available to hire staff, create programs and fund the necessary tools that allow these experiences to happen for students. We are preparing students for all pathways of life and the community of Owatonna benefits!