Aubrey Frandsen has been the CTE Specialist for Salem Hills High School, Salem Junior High, and Valley View for the past 7½ years. She also serves as the State of Utah FCCLA Advisor, and her heart is deeply connected to FCCLA and Family & Consumer Sciences programs.
When asked what being a CTE Specialist means to her, Aubrey explains: "As a CTE Specialist, I feel like I’ve helped create an avenue for growth. A CTE Specialist is someone who tries to inspire teachers to care, to improve, and sometimes fails—but keeps trying anyway. It’s helping hundreds of students reset passwords, learn how to remember them, and figure out how to earn the concurrent enrollment credit they want. It’s building relationships over and over again—with students, teachers, counselors, and administrators. It’s working closely with the counseling team and supporting what the administration needs to see happen. It’s helping students find direction and understand their options, while also having to say no, like when an internship isn’t possible because decisions weren’t made in time. It’s working too much, often with no extra pay or recognition. It’s keeping a jar of sweets on hand to draw in the students who need help graduating. It’s trying to be an expert in everything so every teacher feels supported and valued. Being a CTE Specialist is a role that came naturally to me and one in which I have grown more confident each year."
What Aubrey loves most about her job is the variety of ways she can support students, teachers, and programs. "Wearing many hats has allowed me to support students, teachers, and programs in multiple ways. What I love most is knowing the work I do helps open doors for students who may not see those opportunities yet."
Outside of work, Aubrey enjoys a good treat of Smarties, loves visiting Moorea, and her favorite holiday is Christmas. If she won the lottery, she and her husband, Lance, would live well, give generously, travel freely, and never worry about money again.
The best advice Aubrey has ever been given?
"At any moment, sacrifice what you are, for what you could become."
Salem Hills High School, Salem Junior High, and Valley View are fortunate to have Aubrey Frandsen’s dedication, energy, and heart guiding their CTE programs.
