From a first-hand experience McKee H.S formulates young men and women to become part of the working class with great career opportunities and/or provides a substantial education to start college. Today I’m part of  Local Union 638 Steamfitters of the NYC building trades; which I have been for over 10 years. The Construction Tech program I became part of while attending McKee prepared me for the Blue Collar World. The program has taught me responsibility, common blueprint reading, using the proper tools to complete a job, working well with others, and most importantly being on time!

My name is Dennis O’Connell, I graduated from Ralph R. McKee Career & Technical High School in 1993. I was a Carpentry/Cabinet Making student during my time at McKee. Ralph R. McKee CTE HS provided me with a small, safe learning environment that prepared me for my post-secondary experience. I’m currently the Carpentry and Building Trades Instructor at McKee High School. The Carpentry/Cabinet Making Program provided me with real-life trade experience. During my years in the program, I was able to gain industry knowledge along with hands-on experience. All these exercises were simulations of what was and is currently occurring in the NYC Building Trades. This program provided me with a vast number of opportunities following graduation. I was presented with a direct entry ticket into the NYC Carpenters Union, I was offered a full-time apprenticeship position with a local Cabinet Making Shop. That was the one I chose. Following that I was presented the opportunity to train to become a Carpentry Instructor. For the last 22 years, I have been the Carpentry/Cabinet Making Instructor here at McKee CTE HS. That is how the program helped prepare me for my career. I have now spent my years at McKee preparing young men and women for the world of work. Just as the program prepared me as a young person.

Hi, my name is Dominick Mecca reaching out regarding my years in McKee and my career after. I graduated in 2017 from McKee and the experience I had was great. Currently, the job I have in Local 137 is a sign hanger/fabricator we build and hang signs all over the 5 boroughs, Long Island, and upstate. The construction program prepared me very well for my career by giving me a general idea of how the workforce goes, teaching me about tools blueprints, and a bunch of other stuff that really helped me build a good base to become a good worker once I was given the opportunity to join local 137. The picture of me below is me hanging signs for Target at 2900 Veterans Rd W by the outer bridge