Superintendent’s Superstar: Andrade helps others achieve their potential

Congratulations to Brandon Andrade, the May 2022 Superintendent’s Superstar. Brandon is a senior at CTEC high school and will be one of the first graduates to obtain both his high school diploma and Associates Degree in Industrial Technology with an emphasis in Manufacturing. He will have completed 60 college credits and has an overall GPA of 3.75. Brandon plans to attend Grand Canyon University in Arizona to pursue a degree in kinesiology.

Brandon discovered occupational therapy through his work at Break the Barriers. He began volunteering at Break the Barriers in middle school in the martial arts program, teaching children fitness and safety. Starting in high school, Brandon joined the Break the Barriers team, where they performed in front of crowds sharing the message of “it takes more of an ability than a disability to live.”

Through Break the Barriers, Brandon participates in the Helping Open Possibilities with Exercise (HOPE) program, which teaches veterans to have mind-to-muscle connection on the road to recovery after they have experienced neurological issues that impact their mobility. While at CTEC for his integrated project, Brandon researched prosthetics and the need for occupational therapy to support individuals with limb loss.

He is also an active member of his church and supports the children’s ministry, running Sunday school classes. In the summer of 2021, Brandon traveled with his church to Puerto Rico to help families in need after devastation from a hurricane by providing roofing, painting and other relief efforts.