That secretary, Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, a towering presence wearing a suit and accompanying bowtie, asked students what they might want to do as a career and where they were planning to go to school.

The diligent students, each one wearing a white lab coat, shared their different school plans with Mumin who, upon hearing the name Lehigh University, reacted with glee.

Some students said they would be attending nearby Pennsylvania College of Technology, or Mansfield University — among the shortlist.

It was one interaction of many among Mumin’s visits to several schools in Lycoming, Tioga and Bradford counties — a two-day tour to interact with the students engaged in career readiness activities and hands-on learning.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Khalid Mumin talks with Williamsport Area High School CTE program director Matt Fisher talk as they tour classes at the school Thursday afternoon. Mumin toured area schools to highlight the Governor’s 2024-2025 budget which provides increases in education funding. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

WASD biotechnology lab instructor Andy Paulhamus said they were doing colony isolation of the bacteria e-coli and streaking the bacteria on plates, examining it up close.

Administrators and members of the school board also took the tour, including Matt Fisher, CTE director, who is on par in height to Mumin.

When Mumin reached the room for Health Occupations, students were taking a patient’s vital signs and practicing walking on crutches.

Mumin joked about having his blood pressure tested at a prior school visit earlier and, because it was good, did not want to have it taken again.

But he also spoke intently to the students, asking them, again, which careers they wanted to pursue.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Khalid Mumin talks with Williamsport Area High School CTE students as he tours classes at the school Thursday afternoon. Mumin toured area schools to highlight the Governor’s 2024-2025 budget which provides increases in education funding. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

When he heard a student say they wanted to become a veterinarian assistant, and another a pediatrician and radiology field, he augmented the conversation by explaining a bit of what his goal was as secretary of education.

Registered nurse and instructor Karen Hill was thrilled to have a visitor and share the students’ health career skill sets that translate nicely to college and to training in the medical fields.

When he walked into the Commercial Arts area, Colby Felix showed him his snowboard design.

Felix told Mumin that his inspiration was from his love of medieval items, dragons and wizards.

“What excites me the most is, when I went to school, it was, ‘Get a degree and figure it out,'” he said, looking at Felix’s white and blue snowboard featuring the medieval design picked up by Gilson brand, as instructor Tim Miller smiled widely.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Khalid Mumin talks with Williamsport Area High School CTE students as he tours classes at the school Thursday afternoon. Mumin toured area schools to highlight the Governor’s 2024-2025 budget which provides increases in education funding. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“What it tells me is that you have entrepreneurial skills,” Mumin said. He also spoke with two students who had designed a pin for SkillsUSA.

Mumin toured other CTE rooms during the day. The WASD CTE offers courses in accounting, automotive mechanics technology, biotechnology, business administration, commercial art, computer information technology, construction trades, culinary arts, diversified occupations: work-based learning experience; early childhood education, health professions, homeland security, engineering and robotics, precision machining and welding technology.

Mumin also touched on the importance of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s “Blueprint for Higher Education” and how, under the plan, higher education will serve as an economic driver for Pennsylvania, preparing workers for the future and addressing workforce shortages.

Today, the Commonwealth ranks 48th for affordability in the nation for cost for college, and Mumin stressed how one of the blueprint’s goals is to make it $1,000 per semester for students in state schools and two-year schools, so when they graduate they can seamlessly enter their chosen career field and not be burdened with heavy college-loan debt.

“Again, transferable skills,” Mumin said.