The Salem-Keizer Public Schools Career and Technical Education Center has officially opened the doors to the center’s newest public-serving program, the CTEC Café.
Originally planned to open in the spring of 2020, the CTEC Café features made-to-order coffee and Italian sodas, pastries, sandwiches and more prepared, managed and served by CTEC Culinary Arts & Management program students.
One-of-a-kind educational institution
CTEC is a one-of-a-kind, premier educational institution located in the heart of the Willamette Valley. CTEC students work side-by-side with industry professionals and core academic teachers to build a competitive advantage they’ll use in their next step after high school.
The Career and Technical Education Center first opened in 2015 with the first two programs: Manufacturing, Welding and Engineering and Residential Construction. Each year, the partnership was committed to grow the facility by two additional programs, and now, at its full capacity, serves nearly 700 juniors and seniors in 10 programs.
View a full list of program areas online.
“This opening is a long awaited moment for our students and staff here at CTEC,” said principal Rhonda Rhodes. “Now students will be able to gain even more hands-on, industry training through managing this café, interacting with and serving customers and creative problem solving to everyday challenges that come with running a restaurant.”
CTEC resumes services to the community
As CTEC begins to resume services to the Salem-Keizer community amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the CTEC Café will offer beverages, food and more to guests while enjoying services from programs such as cosmetology and auto body painting and repair or to guests utilizing the facility for meetings or other events.
Over the coming months, the CTEC Café is expected to expand its reach to serve patrons from the greater Salem-Keizer community.