"Having the input of all stakeholders allows you to hear where your CTE program is not just doing well, but more importantly, where you could improve. Hearing where you can improve your program allows you to fulfill our mission as educators completely: providing the most opportunities for our students to succeed."
Cherokee Central Schools (CCS), located in Western North Carolina, serves a student body rich in cultural heritage and driven by potential. In partnership with Rhodes Branding, CCS set out to transform its Career & Technical Education (CTE) experience—connecting students to meaningful career paths and showcasing the power of hands-on learning rooted in community values.
Storyline
Cherokee Central Schools (CCS) set out to tell a new story—one that honored its deep cultural roots while preparing students for a future rich with opportunity. Though its Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs were already offering students valuable skills and real-world learning, many families didn’t fully understand the breadth of pathways available. The district wanted more than visibility; it wanted a brand that reflected the pride and potential of its students.
The collaboration started with an immersive CTE Brand & Audience Experience Workshop, where staff and teachers came together to define the core of what CTE means at CCS. The result was a clear, culturally grounded brand purpose, messaging guidelines, and a new level of alignment across the team.
One of the most transformational outcomes was the creation of a new CTE logo—one that bridges Cherokee heritage with future-ready career paths. The design integrated national CTE campaign colors with meaningful, native symbolism that speaks to identity, vision, and empowerment. Bold enough to stand on its own, yet cohesive with the district’s visual system, the new logo brought visual clarity and pride to the program for the first time.
Rhodes also spent two days capturing images of students and educators in action across diverse programs. This authentic, high-quality photography, paired with the updated brand and messaging, became the foundation of CCS’s marketing materials and digital presence.
Through ongoing support, Rhodes helped the district build a sustainable marketing system—complete with one-pager templates, updated web presence, social media support, and a content calendar tailored to seasonal CTE milestones and a unified #ThisisCTE campaign.
Cherokee Central Schools is proving that when education is aligned with culture, purpose, and opportunity, students don’t just plan for the future—they build it.
