(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — March 27, 2026) — The sound of clucking chickens replaces the usual hum of a typical school day at the Center for Career and Technology Education.
It may not look like a traditional classroom, but for dozens of El Paso ISD students, it’s the first step toward a future in veterinary medicine.
CCTE’s Veterinary Assistant Program offers a unique, two-year pathway where students move beyond textbooks and into hands-on learning. From practicing clinical skills in the classroom to working alongside professionals in veterinary clinics across the city, students are gaining real-world experience before they even graduate high school.
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“This class lets students really think about their future and start planning ahead,” said instructor Hevila Ramos-Rickner. “Maybe they discover this is exactly what they want to do, or maybe they learn something new about themselves. Either way, they leave with valuable skills.”
Students apply during their sophomore year and enter the program as juniors, where they begin building foundational knowledge in animal anatomy, terminology, and handling techniques. By their senior year, those skills are put to the test through hands-on experiences at veterinary clinics across El Paso.
“They have to apply to be here, so there’s already a strong desire to learn,” said instructor James West. “Students feel this is a real step toward veterinary school or becoming a veterinary technician.”
Inside the classroom, learning is anything but ordinary. On any given day, students may be practicing proper restraint techniques, learning how to safely use medical tools, or even caring for live animals, including the program’s resident chickens. Guest speakers also bring in a variety of animals, from household pets to exotic species, giving students exposure to the wide range of cases they may encounter in the field.
For students like Jacob Resendez of Franklin High School, the experience is already paying off.
“This is a big opportunity,” Resendez said. “We’re not even in college yet, but we’re working toward certification and getting real experience with animals. We’re learning hands-on and also building people skills.”
Austin High School junior, Sharon Maynez, said the program helped her discover a new passion.
“I originally wanted to go into engineering, but I realized it wasn’t for me,” the student said. “I’ve always loved animals, and this class helped me see that this could be my future.”
Beyond technical skills, the program emphasizes communication, confidence, and professionalism which are qualities essential in a field where working with both animals and their owners is part of the job.
“One of the benefits is that students leave with skills that make them immediately marketable,” Ramos-Rickner said. “They’re gaining experience that many people don’t get until much later.”
The program, which has been part of CCTE for more than a decade, continues to grow, now serving dozens of juniors and seniors each year. It also plays an important role in addressing a nationwide shortage of veterinary professionals by preparing students early and connecting them to local opportunities.
For West, who once planned to become a veterinarian himself before discovering a passion for teaching, the impact is clear.
“Our goal is to prepare students for the real world,” he said. “Whether they pursue this career or not, they leave here more confident, more skilled, and ready for what’s next.”
And sometimes, that journey starts with something as simple, and unexpected, as caring for a chicken in the classroom.
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