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Building Futures: CTE in East Tennessee with Cindy Lockett

Cindy Lockett knows that high school graduation is only one piece of the educational puzzle. As the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director for Roane County Schools in Tennessee, Lockett has spent the past four years transforming how students prepare for life after the classroom. With over 18 years of dedicated experience in the CTE sector, her leadership is defined by a singular, powerful vision: bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world success.

Driving Purpose through Applied Learning

Lockett’s transition into CTE leadership was fueled by a desire to maximize student impact. While traditional academics form the foundation of education, Lockett views CTE as the critical framework that fills in the gaps.

“All students will be taking a step after their K-12 education is complete,” Lockett notes. Whether that next step is a university campus, a military deployment, or direct entry into the workforce, her goal is to ensure every student possesses a clear roadmap and the tangible skills necessary to achieve their potential.

Balancing Industry Demands with Student Passions

A hallmark of Lockett’s tenure is her data-driven approach to program development. To ensure Roane County’s curriculum remains relevant, she conducts extensive research on regional labor market trends and works hand-in-hand with the Roane Alliance chamber partner. For any CTE pathway to be offered, it must meet rigorous criteria: aligning with high-skill, high-wage, and highly in-demand regional careers.

However, Lockett understands that economic demand matters little without student engagement. To strike a perfect balance, her department regularly analyzes student career aptitude inventories, surveys classroom interest, and collaborates closely with teachers and building principals. This ensures the district offers programs that students are genuinely excited to join.

Innovation in Action

Under her guidance, Roane County has introduced and sustained several high-impact, innovative pathways designed to launch students directly into their careers. Key initiatives include:

• The East Tennessee Academic & Reading Program (ETARP), fostering foundational advancement.
• Roane Medical Partnerships, providing students with invaluable clinical exposure.
• Work-Based Learning (WBL) Placements, creating direct pipelines from high school classrooms straight into local industry employment.

To keep these programs running at the highest level, Lockett prioritizes absolute equity across the district. Her team works intentionally across departments to ensure all students—including those pursuing non-traditional career paths—have full access to these opportunities. Furthermore, she ensures that equipment and funding are distributed equally among schools, meaning every student utilizes the highest-quality materials regardless of their zip code.

Redefining Success and School Culture

For Lockett, testing scores and standard certifications only tell part of the story. She measures the true impact of Roane County’s CTE programs by tracking how effectively students matriculate into post-secondary education and secure relevant employment. By analyzing the long-term value of early post-secondary opportunity (EPSO) credits and industry certifications, she ensures the district’s investment yields real-world returns.

Beyond economic metrics, Lockett emphasizes that CTE fundamentally reshapes school culture and student engagement. “There are some students who are not motivated through traditional academic incentives, but will thrive and excel in a CTE classroom,” she explains. The hands-on nature of these courses serves as a vital hook, boosting daily attendance, driving participation, and motivating students to complete their diplomas.

A Message for the Community

To keep pace with rapidly changing industries, Lockett ensures her teaching staff receives continuous professional development, working closely with state program managers to adopt evolving curriculum standards seamlessly. It is all part of her comprehensive effort to show parents and community members the undeniable value of technical education. When asked about challenges the CTE program faces, Lockett took time to consider. In the end, Lockett shared she has experienced such strong support from legislatures, the local government, and school board that challenges were minimized. It is clear the community leaders of the county also see the benefit in the CTE programs Lockett is directing.

Lockett summarizes the CTE philosophy as an essential journey: career preparation through hands-on skill attainment, soft skills training, and post-secondary opportunities are the vital pieces that empower the next generation to thrive. Under Lockett’s leadership, Roane County Schools continues to transform the traditional K-12 experience. By blending real-world training with robust corporate and medical partnerships, the district ensures that graduation is not an end point, but a launching pad. Whether entering a university lecture hall, a military base, or the local workforce, Roane County’s students leave equipped with the tangible skills, industry credentials, and confidence needed to build a successful future.

Cindy Lockett serves as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director for Roane County Schools in East Tennessee. She is deeply committed to advancing career development by building strong pipelines between K–12 education, postsecondary institutions, and regional industries. Her work emphasizes seamless transitions from middle school to high school CTE pathways and expanded access to early postsecondary opportunities, including nationally recognized industry credentials, work-based learning experiences, and postsecondary enrollment.

Under her leadership, Roane County Schools has launched and expanded K–12 CTE programming through strategic partnerships with industry and higher education, creating clear pathways to employment and lifelong learning for students.

Mrs. Lockett believes all students deserve equitable access to high-quality education aligned with their college and career goals, free from barriers that limit opportunity or skill advancement.

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Submitted by: TN Educator Collective in collaboration with Ms. Cindy Lockett, CTE Director, Roane County Schools, TN

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