Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) will soon embark on a new initiative to expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) student opportunities, thanks to a $1 million donation from the Silver Companies. Founded in Fredericksburg and now headquartered in Florida, the regional real estate company has pledged the investment to help build a new CTE Center, set to be named after Larry D. Silver, the company’s founder and a graduate of James Monroe High School.
The Fredericksburg Education Foundation will hold the funds until the concept for the new CTE Center is fully developed and the facility is constructed. This donation is part of an ongoing effort by FCPS to enhance its career training offerings, focusing on areas such as criminal justice, culinary arts, emergency medicine, trades like HVAC and plumbing, and many more.
School Board Chair Matt Rowe commended the Silver family for their commitment to the community, stating, “This is a massive investment in the Fredericksburg of tomorrow.” The vision for the expanded CTE program has been in the works since 2019, with the City Council and the school division looking to provide more hands-on learning experiences that align with the workforce’s needs.
Plans for the CTE program began taking shape in 2021, with significant portions of the new middle school being designed to accommodate specialized CTE spaces. The program aims to create diverse pathways for students, offering options in manufacturing, mechatronics, energy, and geospatial sciences.
Superintendent Dr. Marci Catlett expressed gratitude for the community’s collaborative efforts, stating, “It truly takes a team. We are so proud of our partnerships because together, we are establishing exceptional experiences and opportunities for our students, who deserve nothing less.”
Neighboring Stafford and Spotsylvania counties already offer robust CTE programs. Stafford Schools provide diverse CTE courses in Agriculture, Business, Health, Marketing, JROTC, and Technology. These programs prepare students for careers, military service, or further education, emphasizing hands-on experience and leadership through Work-Based Learning and Career and Technical Student Organization.s
