By Dr. Michael StaufferBerks Career and Technology CenterEach February, the Nation celebrates Career and Technical Education Month as a time to recognize the value career and technical education, or CTE, brings to students, employers,and local economies. The Berks Career and Technology Center addresses this issue head-on by offering practical hands-on training paired with academic knowledge. Career and Technical Education at the high school level is far more than a steppingstone for individual students. When local students are given the tools to succeed, they, in turn, invest back in their communities, creating a future defined by growth and stability. Dr. Michael Stauffer is executive director of the Berks Career and Technology Center, which has campuses in Oley and Bern townships.