Numeracy, Literacy and Employability group 3

CAREER PATH

Savannah Ojeda

I graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice Sciences and a minor in Political Science. I then completed an internship on patrol with the Galesburg Police Department before relocating to Florida. Since moving to Florida, I have held numerous jobs in the criminal justice field but in my current role I work as a Public Safety Telecommunicator for the 15th largest sheriff's office in the country. I also decided to continue my education and will be graduating from the University of South Florida with a M.S. in Cybercrime in May of 2021. I am hopeful that obtaining my M.S. degree will open the door to new opportunities and I plan to soon transition into an investigative or intel role with my current agency.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS NEEDED FOR THIS CAREER

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED

Galesburg High School Galesburg, Illinois – Knox County

I would say that communication, interpersonal and decision-making skills are most key. Additionally, working in law enforcement, whether as sworn or civilian, requires leadership skills, writing competency, problem solving abilities and willingness to work cohesively with diverse groups of people.

CTE DEPARTMENT/CLASSES ENROLLED IN DURING HIGH SCHOOL

Galesburg Area Vocational Center (GAVC) Law Enforcement

ADVICE TO HIGH SCHOOL CTE STUDENTS

CURRENT JOB TITLE

Taking a vocational course was one of the best decisions I made in high school. I knew I had interest in law enforcement from a young age but being able to get the hands-on experience offered from this course confirmed this was the right career choice for me.

Public Safety Telecommunicator

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

CAREER PATHWAY

HOW HAS CTE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE/CAREER?

Human and Public Services

Being able to take a course focused on my desired career path in high school helped me gain a better understanding of what a career in law enforcement would entail. The course provides students with hands-on experiences to gain the skills necessary to pursue a career in law enforcement.