West Washington would like to proudly congratulate Mr. Zach Eisele for recently being awarded the CTE Award of Excellence at the Indiana CTE Awards Program. Mr. Eisele humbly expresses his gratitude, stating, “The award for excellence is for secondary programs. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be awarded it, but it really isn't myself who earned it but all the students who have dedicated their time and worked hard to make this program a success.”
At West Washington High School, the Pre-Nursing program offers a comprehensive pathway for students interested in pursuing careers in the health sector. This award symbolizes how Mr. Eisele and his program are preparing West Washington students for successful futures in various medical fields.
Program Structure and Pathway: This pathway is not only designed for aspiring nurses, but also caters to any student planning a health career post-secondary school. “The program that I teach is the Pre-Nursing program. It includes a graduation pathway. It normally starts the sophomore year in Principles of Health, Junior year of Medical Terminology, and ends with Certified Nursing Assistant or Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. It helps all students gain success in their medical majors in college,” described Mr. Eisele.
Class Sizes and Growth: There is very strong participation in the program with sophomore classes averaging around 30 students, junior classes around 15, and senior classes around 10. The dual credit certification programs were introduced with the graduating class of 2019, expanding the program’s offerings and student success rates.
Impact and Success: The program’s impact is evident through the success of its alumni. The preparedness gives West Washington High School graduates a significant advantage as they enter higher education. “Nearly every single student that I have in college that has gone through my program and are pursuing a degree in anything medical have commented on how the class has prepared them in the early years of college with their medical knowledge and they felt more prepared in class than some of their peers,” shared Mr. Eisele.
Extracurricular Opportunities and Achievements: A highlight of the program is the participation in the HOSA state leadership conference. Over the past four years, students have been awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships to local universities and colleges. These achievements are a prime example of the program’s excellence and the dedication of its students. Mr. Eisele proudly shared, “This year alone, of the students that participated, we had 45% of our students from our school get in the top 10 in their events.”
Alumni Testimonials: Zoe Wallace, a 2020 graduate, credits the program for her smooth transition to nursing school at Indiana University Southeast. She is set to start her career as an emergency department nurse, attributing her success to the foundational knowledge and experiences gained at West Washington High School.“Without taking Mr. Eisele’s courses and being involved in the health science program, I would not have found my true passion for nursing or had as easy of a transition through my journey in nursing school,” Zoe reflected.
Similarly, Laura Farley (Martin) attributes her successful career in dental hygiene to the program. She emphasized the practical skills and early exposure to the healthcare field as pivotal to her professional journey. “The healthcare program at West Washington Jr./Sr. High school laid the groundwork for my successful career in dental hygiene. It did so by instilling fundamental knowledge about general health, anatomy, and medical terminology,” Laura shared.
The Pre-Nursing program at West Washington High School stands as a testament to the power of early, focused education in setting students on a path to success in the medical field. Through comprehensive coursework, hands-on experiences, and extracurricular achievements, the program continues to inspire and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
