Southeast Career Technical Academy students train on simulated job sites as Las Vegas valley construction grows

What happened

Students at Southeast Career Technical Academy, known as SECTA, are getting hands-on construction training as the need for construction workers grows across the Las Vegas valley, KTNV reported. The school's construction program exposes students to different parts of the industry and teaches them how an actual job site operates.

The program has support from Nigro Construction, which KTNV reported has continuously donated tools to the school. Nearly 2,000 tools have been donated since SECTA partnered with the company, according to the station.

Inside the construction program

A classroom set up like a job site

SECTA senior Summer Abel told KTNV that the teacher's goal is for the club to simulate a job site. In that setup, students fill roles such as the boss, the workers and the safety person, all making sure the work is done right.

Abel said the program is giving her experience she believes will help prepare her for life after graduation. "It gives a lot of experience for out in the field," she told KTNV.

Learning several trades

Abel said students have learned plumbing, metal framing and carpentry, among other trades. She told KTNV that learning different trades before entering the workforce has made it easier to understand that transition. The station reported it has also broadened her understanding of the career opportunities open to her.

A teacher's focus on quality

Doing the work correctly

SECTA construction teacher Lucas Inman told KTNV that hands-on experience is a critical part of preparing students for the workforce. His focus is not only on teaching students how to complete a project but also on how to do the work correctly.

"I'd rather you build it correctly than build it quickly," Inman told the station. He said the hope is that roads will last 100 years instead of 20 years.

Tools for every student

Students also learn how to properly use a variety of tools. Inman said his goal is for every student to have their own set of tools in class, rather than sharing a handful of tools with an entire class. That way, he said, students get the full length of class time to practice.

Industry partner points to regional growth

Kaela Coons, marketing coordinator at Nigro Construction, told KTNV that preparing the next generation of workers is becoming increasingly important as construction continues across the region. "In 2026, the development pipeline has exceeded $33 billion," Coons said.

Coons said the construction industry is growing and there is work available. She told the station the company wants the next generation to be prepared because the workforce needs people entering the skilled trades. More on building activity around the valley is in our development coverage.

Why it matters

KTNV presented the program in the context of a growing need for construction workers across the Las Vegas valley. According to the report, SECTA students are exposed to several trades, job site roles and tool training while still in school, with equipment supplied in part by an industry partner.

The report offers a look at how one program connects classroom work to a local industry. Our schools section covers more news from Las Vegas valley classrooms.

What to watch next

• Whether the program reaches Inman's stated goal of giving every student their own set of tools to use in class.
• Continued tool donations from Nigro Construction, which KTNV described as ongoing, beyond the nearly 2,000 donated so far.