Addie McCluskey
Elmore Autauga News
The National Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education (ALACTE) visited Elmore County Technical Center (ECTC), Sept. 23, 2025, as part of their outreach campaign tour.
ACTE and ALACTE are dedicated to advancing education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers and fosters a competitive workforce.
“We always, always, always want students to understand that they have the world in their hands with career and technical education,” said Cindy McConnell, Executive Director of ALACTE. “I’m a retired health science teacher, and I see the benefits of what all is possible when students come through these classes.”
ECTC offers Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for students from Elmore County, Holtville, Stanhope Elmore, and Wetumpka high schools, as well as EDGE Virtual School.
“When I was in school at Stanhope Elmore, a counselor told me that tech school was only for the kids who weren’t going to college, so when I came on in 2016, I wanted to change the narrative,” said Emilie Johnson, Director of ECTC. “Now, 10 years later, it is less about changing the narrative and more about recruiting the right students.”
Students at ECTC can earn certifications, credentials, and internships that lead to career opportunities and advancement. They also offer dual enrollment with Central Alabama Community College, allowing students to earn college credits while in high school.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re going into the workplace or the military. It’s about following your passion,” said Richard Dennis, Superintendent of Elmore County Schools. “If you do that, you will increase your ability to be successful, and the money will follow.”
A standout example of that success is Made by Molly LLC, a Millbrook cookie company founded by Stanhope Elmore graduate Molly Young. Young discovered her love for cookie decorating in high school through ECTC’s hospitality program. What began as a fun classroom project turned into a passion when she shared her creations on Facebook, discovering her cookies had a fan base eager for more.
“After taking the class at the tech center, I realized how much I enjoyed making cookies and that I was pretty good at it,” said Young. “With support from my parents, I was able to launch Made by Molly, and it has grown significantly over the last couple of years.”
Young later earned her associate’s degree in business and now creates custom cookies for all kinds of occasions—including events like the ACTE and ALACTE tour.
Current ECTC students also participated in the tour, sharing their appreciation for the opportunities they’ve received.
“I really enjoy this program because it has helped open up a lot of opportunities for me, and it has set a basis for what I want to do after I graduate,” said Eva Gallander, student welder from Wetumpka High School.
As ACTE and ALACTE toured the ECTC campus, they received classroom instruction from public safety, construction technology, plumbing and pipefitting, automotive technology, and educators in training programs.
For more information about ECTC, visit https://elmorecounty.ect.schoolinsites.com/.
