From Curiosity to Career: A Student Success Story

08.27.2025 | Credentialing

The career and technical education (CTE) program at Anna ISD, outside of Dallas, TX, is thriving. Through both CTE and STEAM pathways, students explore potential careers, gain hands-on experience, and earn college credits. This strong foundation equips students with the skills, knowledge,  and certifications to pursue their future goals with confidence.

Emma G., a dedicated student, found her passion in Anna ISD’s Early Learning and Child Guidance CTE pathway.

Introducing Emma G.—Anna ISD Student, CTE Learner, and Early Childhood Professional

When Emma entered Anna High school, she shared the same concerns as many of her peers: uncertainty about what life would look like after graduation, which educational options to explore, and what career would be the best fit.

Emma took advantage of her schools’ career-focused personality tests to explore her options. At first, Emma thought a career as an occupational therapist seemed like a possibility based on her results.  But deep down, Emma knew she had always wanted to work with children. Determined to keep searching, Emma turned to Anna ISD’s CTE program.

 “The minute I found out I could work with kids all the time [in the CTE program], I immediately jumped on that and did all four years, ” Emma recalls. Through Anna ISD’s Early Learning and Child Guidance pathway, she discovered that her true passion was teaching.

Courtney Cunningham, Family and Consumer Science teacher at Anna ISD, describes Emma as an incredible student whose talent and passion set her apart. Having taught Emma in her senior year in the final class of the pathway, Courtney witnessed her growth firsthand. Courtney explains “She was one of those students teachers wanted to have in class. I’ve always been super proud of her.”

Hands-On Experience Reinforces Emma’s Newfound Passion for Early Childhood Education

One of the greatest strengths of CTE programs is the real-world experience they provide. Students can see firsthand what life will look like in their chosen career field, whether in automotive technology, nursing, or early childhood. Students are dressing the part, going on-site, and getting hands-on experience with the challenges they’ll face in their future careers.

For Emma, these hands-on opportunities were transformative. “The minute we started going to the elementary schools, I knew,” she recalls. “I got to be a student teacher. I got to help them teach the kids; the minute I got to start teaching, I knew this is what I want to do.” This experience actually reinforced her confidence that this was the right career for her.

Through her CTE pathway, Emma was also able to identify the age group that best matched her passion for teaching. “And that’s the whole point of the practice, too. Just kind of finding, okay, this works for me. Yeah, this doesn’t work for me, or I want to switch my major. So that way in high school you can get that information instead of spending a bunch of money in college.”

Her teacher Courtney Cunningham affirms Emma’s gift for the classroom: “Emma is an incredible student and person, she’s a born teacher. She has a great talent for her students and I’m really proud of her. I’m really grateful to NOCTI for the opportunities for my students as well.”

In the video below, Emma shares more about her CTE experience and impact of earning NOCTI certification in her own words.

NOCTI Certification Gave Emma Confidence in Her Career Path

For many CTE programs, the pathway culminates in a NOCTI skills assessment which is a comprehensive exam that verifies the knowledge and hands-on skills students have gained throughout the CTE program. It not only marks their transition from student to career-ready young adult, but can also qualify them for college credits, giving them an extra advantage if they pursue higher education.

In Emma’s program, the NOCTI exam takes place at a local elementary school where students are paired with pre-K children for the hands-on portion of the exam. This real-world setting allows them to demonstrate the full range of skills and knowledge they’ve built over four years in the Early Learning and Child Guidance pathway.

Courtney Cunningham sees the value of NOCTI certification for her students every year. “It looks great on resumes. Especially if they want to get a job at a daycare, or if they want to be hired by the school district, NOCTI certification looks really good for them.”

For Emma, the experience was both validating and moving. “It was very exciting when I received the passing results because that means I took something away from it. The stuff on the exam is what you see in the schools and what you see at the daycare, so it was very helpful to prepare for the exam.”

Emma’s Story Comes Full Circle at Harlow Elementary 

After earning her early learning certification, Emma became qualified to start working in early education in Texas. She was soon hired as a behavior para at Harlow Elementary—right in the Anna school district she has called home since kindergarten. Now in her second year at Harlow, Emma is continuing her education by pursuing a degree in educational studies.

Her journey has truly come full circle. Not only is she giving back to the same community that shaped her, but she also gets to work with Cunningham’s son, who is a student at Harlow Elementary!

Courtney is both proud and inspired by Emma’s success, as well as the support Anna ISD’s continues to show its CTE students. “We’re all super proud that she has made that transition and all of her hard work has paid off. Very well deserved, and she is just incredible inside and out. Amazing with students and just an overall really good person.”

NOCTI: Helping the Next Generation of Skilled Workers Find Their Passion and Their Place

CTE and other forms of hands-on learning are game changers for today’s students. These programs don’t just prepare learners for the future—they help them define their career paths early and step into a workforce equipped with the skills, tools, and confidence to succeed.

 A key part of that success is earning a NOCTI certification. These credentials verify the knowledge and hard work students put into their programs, proving they are ready to contribute as high-achieving team members in competitive careers.

Backed by more than 55 years of experience, NOCTI skill assessments are developed to be fair, reliable, and accurate. NOCTI’s development process and resulting credentials are accredited to the ISO17024 standards for certification of persons and are widely recognized across the USA.

Beyond certification, NOCTI’s test data empowers educators to celebrate student achievement, strengthen program effectiveness, and meet state and federal reporting . Ready to learn more about how NOCTI can support your students’ success? Contact us here to learn more.