A Sneak Peek into CTAE: Marketing Classroom Overlook

Marketing teacher Mrs. Krista Milligan shares inside information on how marketing benefits students, why they should take the class, and how it differs from other core or CTAE classes.
​by Makenzie Bass

​Marketing is one of the many CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) classes offered here at WGHS, teaching students how to handle real-life career choices and skills they can use for future endeavors. Mrs. Milligan says some skills she wants her students to take away from the class are “employability, communication, respect, hard work, and public speaking.”
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Her class differs from academic core classes and other CTAE classes because, as she explains, “...the class is more communication-based, so there’s more talking in here than I feel like there is in a normal core classroom. Second, we run the school store, so the kids are getting actual real-world experience that can go on a resume right now. And lastly, they do a lot of hands-on projects and presentations—more than an academic class.”

She adds, “Students should join marketing even if they do not have any desire to work in the marketing field, because it helps you grow in your confidence and your communication skills, which you need for your future. My students can gain real-world experience and employability skills that transfer over into their future careers.”

Milligan says, “My favorite part about being a CTAE teacher is that we have more opportunities to make our lessons fun and relevant to the real world so they benefit the students.” She added, “My students affect my everyday life because they make me smile, and I spend more time with them than I do adults, so they’re my source of social interaction. We build relationships here; I enjoy talking to them, I think about them even when we're not at school, and they are just important people in my life. I just let [my students] be themselves. I let them goof off a little bit and have fun; as long as the learning is still taking place, I let them share their ideas with each other and stay respectful.”

Teachers at WGHS are always finding new and fun ways to teach lessons and strive to be better educators every day. “I strive to be a better teacher every day by starting the day reminding myself that I can’t control everything, and trying to be patient and make the best of what the day brings. Also, I always make sure my kids know that I love them, care about them, and that they don’t have to change anything about themselves.”

Marketing is a key part of the CTAE department here at WGHS, giving students important skills and knowledge they can take to their careers and further education. Taking the marketing pathway can prepare students for real-world problems and situations, providing them with a plethora of ways to handle professional challenges.

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