The vision for the BRTEC is to provide training opportunities for students, as well as adults, seeking to reenter the workforce in select technical careers, which have been chosen based on their alignment with specific workforce needs in our region. The Barbara Roberts Career Technical Education Center (BRCTEC) has the potential to transform local education, as well as workforce training throughout rural Yamhill and Polk Counties.

The opportunities for students to earn college credits, high school diplomas, and professional certifications will create a direct pipeline to fulfilling careers and will increase graduation rates, especially for underserved populations.

The BRCTEC represents a visionary solution that addresses the challenges faced by rural communities, particularly the lack of access to high-quality career and technical education (CTE) courses that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers.

Sheridan School District has reached out to other local, rural school districts with the intent of developing partnerships that will allow the BRCTEC to serve students throughout our broader area, equipping them with the skills necessary for success in today’s competitive job market while fostering a sense of belonging and purpose in their academic and professional pursuits. We are confident the success of this project will provide all our students with new pathways to success and ultimately strengthen our community as a whole.

Once the Barbara Roberts Career Technical Education Center opens, we hope area businesses will continue to play a vital role in the success of the center with participation in curriculum development, a future Industry Advisory Committee, student tours and internships in local organizations and on-site guest lectures helping teach important insights into the local workforce environment.

Barbara Roberts Career Technical Education Center will feature four pathways:

Fire Science/ EMT

Diesel Tech & Truck Driving

Agribusiness

Manufacturing

We anticipate the first two pathways (Fire Science/EMT and Diesel Tech & Truck Driving) will open first when funding is available to complete Phase 1 of construction.

Phase 2 (Agribusiness & Manufacturing) will open when funds are available.

Start Learning Now shifts learning through the Barbara Roberts CTEC to a regional CTEC model that will house purchased equipment and curriculum in existing classrooms and educational spaces throughout participating districts. This model will create opportunities for students in rural communities to immediately begin exploring hands-on career learning without waiting for the construction of a permanent facility.

The regional model will maintain momentum for the project, allow visible progress to continue, and ensure that students have access to all purchased equipment rather than sitting in storage. Access to classes will strengthen recruitment efforts and build interest in rural career pathway programs for students, industry leaders, and potential funders.  Once construction of a permanent BRCTEC building is complete, all purchased equipment and curriculum will move into the center and become part of the permanent program. 

The vision for the regional Barbara Roberts CTEC remains the same: Create a thriving future for rural Yamhill and Polk County students by preparing them for high-skill, high-wage technical careers using strong partnerships with local industry leaders to align workforce needs with pathway programs that inspire interest in education, equip students with relevant technical skills, and generate growth in our rural communities.  

The proposed changes will shorten the timeline for students to start engaging in hands-on instruction, with a goal of learning labs and/or initial classes available by Fall 2026, and at least two full pathways programs launched by Fall 2027. 

This regional model keeps the project aligned with its intended outcomes and allows students to Start Learning Now.

Barbara Roberts Career Technical Education Center will be open to students of Amity School District, Dayton School District, Perrydale School District, Sheridan School District, and Willamina School District.

Our long-term vision also includes the ability for members of our local community to access courses and career training opportunities through the BRCTEC.

Opening of a permanent Barbara Roberts Career Technical Education Center facility depends entirely on the availability of funds. 

The project is “shovel-ready”, which means land has been purchased and the initial steps have been completed to prepare the space for construction. Next steps include site prep, primarily gravel for the building pad, and street improvements required for permitting with the city of Sheridan. Both of these steps can be accomplished as soon as funding is available. 

No general fund money (money allocated to Sheridan School District by the State for everyday operations of the school) has been or will be used on this project, and construction will depend on when funding becomes available from state/federal funds, grants, and private donations.

The Barbara Roberts Career Technical Education Center is funded by state grants and federal funding, as well as private donations and gifts.

No general fund money (money allocated to Sheridan School District by the State for everyday operations of the school) has been or will be used on this project, and the opening of programs will depend on when funding becomes available from the sources listed above.

The Barbara Roberts Career Training Education Center’s name honors former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts, who graduated from Sheridan High School in 1955 and was a lifelong advocate for education and opportunity for students across the state of Oregon. She served as the 34th Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995 and was the first woman elected to serve as the governor of Oregon.

Roberts championed policies that prioritized access to quality education for all Oregonians. During her time in public service, she strongly supported reforms that expanded vocational and technical training, especially for underserved and rural communities. Her efforts laid the groundwork for programs that connected students to meaningful career pathways, elevated the role of CTE within public education, and emphasized its importance to Oregon’s economic vitality.

BRCTEC’s vision to create a thriving future for rural students embodies the values Governor Roberts championed throughout her career.