Archbishop McGovern announces new Career and Technical Education Initiative for Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic School

Archbishop Michael McGovern has announced a new Career and Technical Education initiative for Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools, a multi-year effort to expand hands-on, career-connected learning opportunities for thousands of Catholic school students across
northeast Nebraska.

“I believe every young person needs the opportunity to make a living, so that they can make a good life,” said Archbishop McGovern. “This initiative will empower every student — no matter what field he or she is ultimately called to pursue — to discover and develop the God-given abilities that will shape their future. A Catholic education is for every child.”

Archbishop McGovern speaks to the press, and others gathered for the announcement of the new Career and Technical Education initiative for Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools.

The K-12 initiative is the first such effort by a diocesan school system in the United States and will begin with a pilot phase in the 2027-2028 school year, bringing early exposure in career and technical education to six Catholic schools:

• Norfolk Catholic Junior and High School – Norfolk,
• St. Joseph Elementary School – Atkinson,
• Christ the King Catholic School – Omaha,
• Skutt Catholic High School – Omaha,
• All Saints Catholic School – Omaha
• And Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School – Omaha

Archbishop McGovern poses with representatives of schools who will participate in the pilot phase of the Career and Technical Education initiative.

These schools will offer hands-on learning experiences, career exploration activities, and early partnerships with local employers and technical institutes tailored to the student’s age levels with the goal of applying those lessons as the program expands to additional Catholic schools across the archdiocese in future years.

A newly created position, the associate superintendent for career and technical education, will oversee the initiative across our Catholic schools system, working directly with school leaders t0 assist in implementation and to build relationships with local businesses, industry groups, and higher education partners.

“This initiative will broaden students’ understanding of the possibilities for their future while helping them apply what they learn in meaningful, real-world settings,” said the Archdiocese of Omaha’s Superintendent of Catholic Schools Vickie Kauffold. “In the years ahead, Catholic school students will have expanded opportunities for exploratory, hands-on learning through specialized lessons,
tabletop exercises, in-field experiences, apprenticeships and more.”

“Expanding access to Career and Technical Education in our Catholic schools will not only meet workforce development needs in northeast Nebraska, but this initiative will also help more families to choose a Catholic education,” said Rick Bettger, owner of Omaha Car Care and a member of the archdiocese’s Career and Technical Education Viability Task Force.

Informed by the work of the Career and Technical Education Viability task force, this initiative reflects the Archdiocese of Omaha’s belief that Catholic education forms the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — and that college and career readiness and spiritual and academic formation go hand in hand. Additional details, including how families and community partners can get involved, are available at schools.archomaha.org.

Archbishop McGovern stands with members of the Career and Technical Education Viability Task Force.