Southland Career & Technical Education Center Rendering via YouTube Screenshot
In a bold move to expand educational and workforce opportunities across the south suburbs, six superintendents and educational leaders representing school districts and colleges in southern Cook County will formally present the Southland Career & Technical Education Center (SCTEC)—a transformative regional initiative repurposing the former Rich East High School site in Park Forest, Illinois.
The event will bring together over 300 stakeholders, including Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin, Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill, Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan, Attorney Vincent Williams, municipal mayors, community leaders, and regional business partners to unveil full architectural, curricular, and strategic plans for the SCTEC.
This groundbreaking initiative is being developed through a collaborative partnership between:
· Dr. Lenell Navarre, Superintendent, Bloom Township High School District 206
· Dr. Scott Wakeley, Superintendent, Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233
· Dr. Michael Anthony, President, Prairie State College
· Dr. Johnnie Thomas, Superintendent, Rich Township High School District 227
· Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, CEO/Superintendent, Southland College Prep Charter High School
· Dr. Tina Halliman, Superintendent, S.E.J.A. District 802
Together, these leaders are working to establish a future-focused regional center dedicated to providing career and technical education (CTE) programming for both high school and post-secondary learners. With a projected opening in 2028, the SCTEC will offer in-demand pathways in the following areas:
· Aviation
· Construction Trades
· Information Technology
· Logistics & Supply Chain Management
· Manufacturing
· Public Safety
· Urban Agriculture
The announcement reflects the culmination of extensive planning that integrated educational visioning, labor market data, and regional workforce needs. The SCTEC aims to become a premier hub for career readiness, creating seamless transitions from high school to college and into high-demand careers.
Originally closed in 2019 during a district-wide consolidation process, the former Rich East High School site at 300 Sauk Trail, Park Forest, is now poised to rise again—as a center of innovation, opportunity, and economic empowerment for the Southland region.
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