We are excited to announce our recent push within Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Dolores Secondary School and our dedicated efforts over the past year and a half to become leaders in CTE in our region. Our CTE woodworking and design program combines traditional woodworking craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital design, creating a unique experience for students in grades 6 through 12. Thanks to the vision of our team and our dedicated educators, students gain hands-on experience with a range of professional tools, including our Woodmizer LT15 portable sawmill. This sawmill allows them to mill locally sourced beetle-kill pine and aspen logs, turning rough wood into beautiful slabs for student projects while supporting sustainable practices and reducing program costs.

In addition to woodworking and welding, our CTE program offers advanced Computer-Aided Design (CAD) coursework—a new addition that has greatly expanded student opportunities. Through our partnership with the Southwest Colorado Educational Collaborative (SWCEC), we’ve been able to upgrade much of our existing woodworking machinery and welding equipment, add industry-standard digital fabrication equipment, and install eight high-performance CAD workstations. These resources enable students to develop sophisticated designs digitally before moving into physical production, bridging traditional skills with modern industry practices.

Our recent equipment additions include the Tormach 24R CNC Router with a 10-tool automatic tool changer and the Tormach 1300 PL Plasma Table, both of which rotate through our school as shared resources. These tools bring students’ digital designs to life, providing hands-on experience with fabrication technologies used in today’s woodworking, design, and metalworking industries. Alongside our woodworking curriculum, our CTE welding program offers students the chance to earn welding certification beginning in high school, and we hope to add CAD/CAM certifications in Fusion 360 next year, further expanding students’ professional credentials.

Our CTE woodworking and welding programs continue to make Dolores Secondary School a leader in hands-on education in our region, offering students a unique opportunity to build real-world skills. We are always looking for quality aspen or beetle-kill pine log donations from the community, and in return, we offer the perimeter off-cuts as firewood. Any questions, donations, or firewood requests can be directed to Mr. Tyson Atwell at tatwell@dolores.k12.co.us.