About SCTEC – Southlandc Career & Technical Education Center

What is the Southland Career & Technical Education Center?

Fact & Opportunity:
Until recently, no regional career center project had been proposed in Illinois in more than 48 years and no Career and Technical Education-focused secondary training center has been in operation in Chicago’s well-regarded south suburbs in more than 34 years.

Response & Solution:
Located in the south suburban Village of Park Forest, the Southland Career & Technical Education Center (SCTEC) is an innovative, future-forward, 145,000-square-foot area career center designed to house seven Career & Technical Education Programs for learners in the south suburbs.
Education executives from several Illinois educational institutions in Chicago’s south suburbs formed what is known as the “Collective” to provide learners with technologically advanced C&TE options.

Conceived with youth and adult learners in mind, the SCTEC would be a new structure at a cost of approximately $120 million and constructed on the site of an accessible, 55-acre building in Park Forest provided by Rich Township High School District 227.
The SCTEC would be constructed using grants, funds from the Illinois Governor’s Office, business, industry, union and private dollars.

Plans call for the SCETC to open its doors to students and the community in August 2028 and begin instruction in all SCTEC program areas.

SCTEC Vision

The proposed SCTEC career center would be a CTE-focused institution that serves learners from across multiple geographies and often serves secondary and post-secondary students as well as adult learners.

Now is the time to fill an unmet need in Chicago’s south suburbs to support thousands of learners with real-time, relevant preparation to secure jobs and pursue the technical careers of the future.

Now is the time to prepare south suburban learners to discover viable, well-paying career options without amassing large amounts of college debt.

Now is the time for the learners to access valuable vocational training that leads to well-paying, current and future career-focused jobs in these rewarding fields:

Aviation Technology – opportunities include: aerospace engineer, airline pilot, aircraft or air power mechanic, air traffic controller, avionics technician and climatologist and environmental scientist

Construction Trades – opportunities include: brazer and solderer, carpenter, construction manager, electrician, HVAC technician, pipefitter and steamfitter plumber, welder and cutte

Information Technology – opportunities include: computer network specialist, cyber security specialist, data analyst, database administrator, digital forensic accountant and information
security analyst

Logistics and Supply Chain Management – opportunities include: CDL-licensed trucker, civil engineer, distribution manager, forklift operator,
logistician/analyst, manager /analyst and mechanical engineer and purchasing agent

Manufacturing Technologies – opportunities include: CAD drafter, CNC machinist, CNC tool programmer, instrument technician, logistics engineer, mechanical engineer and welder

Public Safety and Community Advocacy – opportunities include: crime scene investigator, detective, criminal investigator, emergency medical technician, forensic technician, paramedic and police and sheriff’s patrol officer

Urban Agriculture – opportunities include: agricultural technician, agriculture/greenhouse manager, agronomist, farm manager and food
engineer

Career Counseling – opportunities include: assisting learners in exploring work options and preparing them to enter and succeed through consultation and specific advice to help them make career decisions. Career counselors help learners understand the relationship between personal qualities, talents, education, training and the workforce.

For more information about the SCTEC and to learn how to offer your expertise, call Dr. Johnnie Thomas, chairman of the Collective, at (708) 679-5739 or via email at jthomas@rich227.org.