KTEC student plans a career in healthcare

Not every teenager knows what they want to do with their lives — but Lake City High School senior Lilly Williamson does.

Lilly plans to become a nurse, a goal shaped by a life-changing medical experience at age 7. After developing mastoiditis — a rare, severe bacterial infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear — she underwent multiple surgeries throughout childhood.

“I had both eardrums burst, and water got into the bone. I had bacteria eating away at the bone — a condition usually found only in elderly cancer patients,” she said. “I must have had eight surgeries until I was about 12. I’m still in contact with my doctor; she had such a big effect on my life. I idolized her.”

Today, Lilly is enrolled in the Health Professions program at the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC), where she is already taking her first steps into the healthcare field. Her immediate goal is to earn her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.

“Being a CNA looks great on a résumé when applying to nursing school,” she said. “When I graduate next spring, I’ll be able to work in a hospital or an assisted living facility.”

KTEC is North Idaho’s regional career-technical training center for high school juniors and seniors. Operated by the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland school districts, KTEC offers tuition-free, industry-aligned programs in high-demand fields such as welding, construction, automotive technology, diesel repair, health professions and cybersecurity.

The Coeur d’Alene School District funds its share of KTEC through voter-approved levy dollars. Last year, the district contributed $771,730, and its yearly obligation is expected to grow as program needs expand.

“Young men and women are able to launch their careers because taxpayers approved the district’s levy,” said Trent Derrick, executive director of Secondary Education. “It’s one of our most important programs. KTEC prepares students for the real world.”

KTEC students remain enrolled in their home high schools while spending part of their day on the KTEC campus, allowing them to earn high school credit college courses, and industry certifications simultaneously. 

Health Professions instructor Jenee Weirick said Lilly is already standing out.

“Lilly is proactive and a natural leader,” Weirick said. “She is detail-oriented and goal-driven. She’s in it to win it. I have no doubt she will be successful.”

Weirick said the Health Professional program places nearly 100% of its students into jobs.

“Employers come to our job fair in the spring and they want our students,” said Weirick. “They are highly sought because of the training we provide here at KTEC.”

KTEC was created to meet North Idaho’s growing workforce needs and to build direct pathways into skilled, well-paid careers. Programs are taught by industry-experienced instructors and developed in partnership with local employers, ensuring students learn current, job-ready skills. With its focus on practical training, career readiness, and strong community partnerships, KTEC has become a cornerstone of the region’s workforce development pipeline — helping students move confidently into apprenticeships, college programs, or immediate employment after graduation.

Lilly plans to attend North Idaho College after graduation to earn a nursing degree. Long-term she wants to work as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

“It’s always something that has interested me,” said Williamson. “I want to be that person for people to look up to in the medical field.”