Category Archives: Career/technical education (CTE)

‘When I Grow Up Expo’ draws crowd for hands-on career exploration

Houston families stepped out into the sunshine for a productive, fun-filled day on Saturday at the “When I Grow Up Expo” at Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.

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Approximately 6,000 people took advantage of the more than 100 exhibitors, including Exxon Mobil, Centerpoint Energy, and the Chavez High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) showcased hands-on career awareness and exploration activities. Face painters and food vendors maintained a party atmosphere. Students were encouraged to take part in numerous exercises designed to help them explore different career options.

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Milby HS takes shape as bond construction moves forward

As concrete walls go up and steel framing is erected, the Milby High School community can now see the future of their new campus beginning to take shape.

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The 267,000-square-foot project along Broadway Street in Houston’s East End is a combination of new construction and renovation, allowing the school to maintain its historical structure while also creating a modern learning environment for up to 2,000 students.

“All of the tilt walls and concrete walls have now been completed,” said HISD’s Project Manager Mark Crippen. ”It seems as if it takes forever to complete, but once construction starts, it moves pretty quickly.”

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Student spotlight: Yates HS communications students participate in CBS Sports Symposium

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles designed to highlight the work of HISD students, particularly as it relates to developing global graduate skills, connecting learning to careers, or preparing for higher education. In this entry, we see members of the communications program at Yates High School participating in a CBS Sports Symposium, one of the many Final Four events benefiting HISD students.

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Representatives from CBS, Turner Sports, and the NCAA held a symposium with Yates HS students on March 30 as part of the lead-up to the Final Four showdown.

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Student spotlight: Yates HS communications program covers State of the Schools

Editor’s note: This is the first in a weekly series of articles designed to highlight the work of HISD students, particularly as it relates to developing global graduate skills, connecting learning to careers, or preparing for higher education. In this inaugural feature, we take a look at the communications program at Yates High School, whose students covered the district’s State of the Schools luncheon on March 3 as a part of their project-based assignments.

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More than 150 students currently participate in the communications program at Yates HS, and several of those young people got to attend HISD’s recent State of the Schools luncheon. While there, they applied what they are learning in the classroom to real life, honing their skills in photography, film-making, interviewing, and story-telling.

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HISD recognized at Houston Hispanic Forum’s 30th annual Career and Education Day

Thousands of students from across the Houston area, including hundreds from HISD, attended the Houston Hispanic Forum’s massive College and Education Day on Feb. 13, 2016, at the Brown Convention Center.

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HISD students discover college options at NACAC Houston National College Fair

HISD students and parents from 20 high schools across the district gathered at NRG Arena on Tuesday morning for the NACAC Houston National College Fair, where admissions representatives from nearly 240 colleges and universities were on hand.

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“There are a lot of colleges right now that I’m interested in, and it’s good to see all of the colleges out in one place,” said Energy Institute High School student Jacob Guerrero.

The fair, which is organized by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, provides information about national and international schools, public and private universities, two-year and four-year programs, admissions requirements, and financial aid. More than 6,000 students from the Houston area were able to receive information on financial aid, scholarships, virtual campus tours, and advice on writing college essays.

“I really liked the fair, and I think it’s diverse,” said Ebony Edwards, an 11th-grade student at Yates High School. “It’s a good atmosphere for students to come around and see different colleges to see what each offers.”

Students will have three more opportunities to attend college fairs before the end of the month: the Houston Hispanic Forum’s College & Career Day (Feb. 13), the National Hispanic College Fair (Feb. 15), and the Black College Expo (Feb. 27). For details, please see this related article.

Virtual welding trainer gives students real-world experience

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Students from Milby High School’s welding program now have access to a state-of-the-art virtual-reality arc-welding training simulator. The computer-based training system is an educational tool designed to supplement traditional welding training. The VRTEX® 360 allows students to practice their welding techniques in a simulated environment that is just like being on the job. The machine is suitable for students studying everything from basic to advanced welding.

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Rick Cruz selected to serve as HISD’s new Chief of Major Projects

Richard (Rick) Cruz poses for a photograph, January 6, 2016.

Richard (Rick) Cruz poses for a photograph, January 6, 2016.

Houston Independent School District Major Projects Officer Rick Cruz has been selected to lead his division, replacing outgoing Chief Don Hare, who is retiring.

Cruz, a former fifth-grade teacher who was tapped to serve in the HISD administration after launching the district’s successful EMERGE program more than five years ago, will officially assume his new role on Jan. 25.

In his new position, he will be tasked with managing the College Readiness and Counseling and Guidance departments, as well as major initiatives designed to transform education in the district, such as the EMERGE and Futures Academy programs, and Linked Learning.

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Students exploring Linked Learning through Junior Achievement

Thanks to a $30 million federal Race to the Top-District (RTT-D) grant HISD won in 2013, students at 119 campuses are connecting the concepts they learn in the classroom to the real world that awaits them after graduation. 

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New Jordan HS for Careers to feature modern career labs

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The early designs of a new Barbara Jordan High School for Careers showcase a building that would give students the tools and labs to learn the latest skills for professions as diverse as welding and marketing.

“We want to use all of this building,” Principal Ross McAlpine told a small gathering of parents and alumni Tuesday night. “We don’t want any wasted space. We really need this school to work for the kids.”

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