Director's Message

Thank you for your interest in the Mission Trails Regional Occupation Program (MTROP) and for visiting our website. 

The Salinas Union High School District’s Career Technical Education program is the largest program of its kind in Monterey County. During the 2025–26 school year, our certificated and classified staff served 5,376 students through 85 courses, 287 sections, 28 pathways, and 13 industry sectors. We achieved a 24% increase in pathway completers and launched 11 dual enrollment sections, giving more students opportunities to earn college credit while still in high school.

Career readiness remains at the center of our work. Students earned 8,276 industry and employability certifications, including OSHA-10, CareerSafe employability, California Food Handler, CPR/First Aid, NC3, and other industry-specific credentials. Ninety-four percent of our high school CTE students participated in more than 37,000 hours of work-based learning. Through our partnership with the California Department of Rehabilitation, students with disabilities also received nearly 1,000 hours of work-readiness training, including paid work experiences.

Our students continued to distinguish themselves through Career Technical Student Organizations. Sixty-two students qualified for SkillsUSA state competitions, five earned state medals, and students received more than 600 FFA awards recognizing their technical skills, leadership, and professionalism.

Equitable access is fundamental to our mission. Sixteen CTE courses were offered outside the traditional school calendar, creating additional opportunities for English Learners, students with disabilities, and other special populations to participate in high-quality career pathways.

Looking ahead to 2026–27, our goals are to:

• Increase pathway completions 
• Expand CTE dual enrollment opportunities
• Increase CTE participation among English Learners and students with disabilities
• Ensure every high school CTE student participates in work-based learning
• Increase industry certifications earned by our students
• Establish a pre-apprenticeship program

We are proud of what our students and staff accomplished this past year, and we are excited to build upon that success. Together with our educational, industry, and community partners, we will continue connecting students to meaningful career pathways, real-world experiences, and the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to thrive.

On behalf of the MTROP teachers and staff, thank you for supporting Career Technical Education. I look forward to another outstanding year of preparing students for success.

Sincerely,

Rob Appel

Director of Mission Trails ROP - JPA, SUHSD CTE & MTROP