November 11, 2026 — Middle school students got an up-close look at the many career and technical training opportunities waiting for them in high school and beyond. The Cobb Schools Career Pathways Expo is designed primarily for eighth graders and was attended by nearly 700 students. It was an interactive introduction to Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs available all over the District.
"We wanted Cobb middle school students to be able to explore future careers, but also to see what they can expect when they go to high school," explained Career Education Coordinator Sapph Espinoza. "We have local industry professionals talking about career options, but also we have student-led demonstrations from many of our high school career pathway programs."
Students explored a wide range of career pathways, including agriculture, culinary arts, criminal investigation, early childhood education, healthcare science, construction, audio-video technology, engineering, graphic design, and much more. Hands-on demonstrations gave middle schoolers an opportunity to see the programs in action, including robotics teams from Wheeler and Walton demonstrating their competition robots and Sprayberry’s JROTC program showcasing its drones.
In addition, the Expo highlighted Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities, which allow high school students to gain real-world experience through internships and other career-related placements. Every Cobb high school has a work-based learning coordinator who can help students explore those opportunities and offer support and guidance.
Students Helping Students
High school students themselves played a vital role in the Expo by leading demonstrations, sharing their experiences, and encouraging younger students to explore as many of the options available through Cobb as possible.
"One of our team's main forms of outreach is giving back to the younger generation," said a senior from Walton's Robotics team. "We teach middle school students about the engineering design process, programming, and presentation skills so they're prepared if they decide to join us."
"A lot of people think robotics is just engineering and programming, and that is definitely a big part of it," agreed another team member. "But there are also presentation aspects, public relations, and media. There’s a very large variety of skills to be gained."
She pointed out that Walton Robotics has given her the confidence to speak in front of others. “When I first joined robotics, I used to freeze up a lot and get very nervous during public speaking. It has helped a lot with that," the Walton junior said with a smile.
For sophomore Sydney Stine, the Sprayberry Culinary Arts program has taught her both cooking and creativity. "We have special recipes to make, but you can design them and decorate them however you want," Stine said. "I've learned that you can develop so many good skills, not just in the kitchen, but in your overall life. I've had so much fun."
Amelia Hussong has seen firsthand how her dreams can be achieved. She is a senior in Kell's Audio, Video, Technology, and Film pathway, and she recently attended a presentation from Kell alum Ashley ShahAhmadi about professional sideline and sports reporting. She even got to interview ShahAhmadi afterward.
"I'm interested in going into sideline reporting, and this class opened up the opportunity for me to get an internship," Hussong said. "Right now, I take pictures for my school, and I'm also a sports intern for the District. [Ashley ShahAhmadi] is doing exactly what I want to do. Seeing the steps she took from being a student to going to college and pursuing that career was inspiring!"
High school students shared many other stories with middle school students throughout the Expo. Excitement about what they are doing, learning, and hoping to achieve was evident throughout the event, but CTAE opportunities at Cobb don't stop at the local high school building.
CITA and WBL
Students also learned about the specialized programs at Allatoona and Osborne through the Cobb Innovation and Technology Academies (CITA), which provide additional pathways for students interested in specific career fields. Students can also work with their school counselors to explore career and technical education courses, join career-related student organizations, or pursue WBL experiences that connect with their interests.
Local industry partners and the Cobb Chamber also supported the event, helping students connect classroom learning with careers available in their own community. The Chamber and Select Cobb brought the Be A Pro truck, an interactive mobile exhibit that introduces students to a variety of career opportunities.
The goal of the Expo is to help students see that opportunities are all around them. Whether they choose to enter the workforce, pursue an apprenticeship or internship, attend a technical college or university, join the military, or start their own business, Cobb has many ways to help prepare them for life after graduation. By introducing these possibilities in middle school, the Career Pathways Expo gives students a head start on discovering their interests and planning for what comes next.
CTAE is for Everyone
Although the Expo was aimed at informing middle school students about their future options, current high school students should not think they have missed their chance to be a part of Cobb's CTAE programs. It is never too late to get involved, and students can enroll in career education courses throughout all four years of high school.
“I would say just go for it because you may not know if you like it unless you try it. Even if you don't pursue it as a career in the future, it will always be a good skill to have," advised Amelia Hussong about CTAE opportunities in Cobb.
