Education
BY CODY THORN
NISD, KISD use local partnerships to boost CTE certi cations
“I feel like I’m like so prepared for college and I feel as if I’m at a higher advantage than everyone else that is going into the same eld for college,” Espinosa said in a promotional NISD video. “I think the internship program extremely prepares you for your workforce.” She attended the University of Texas at Arling- ton and currently works for 13thirty Designs, an interior design studio based in Southlake. Sean Eschberger is a Keller ISD graduate from Timber Creek High School who was part of the aerospace engineering program through the school and earned an internship at Lockheed Martin. “I worked with a lot of engineers on the math side and on the communication side,” he said in a promotional KISD video. “Seeing the F-35 [combat aircrafts] being built across a one-mile long facility is crazy, because on the other side of a wall I may be working on a spreadsheet that has a direct impact on the manufacturing the F-35.” Eschberger went to the University of Texas at Austin and is now a full-time employee of Lock- heed Martin. What else? According to KISD and NISD’s websites, CTE programs integrate academic knowledge with practical, hands-on skills and gaining valuable industry-speci c experience. Opportunities through CTE programs include: • Certi cations and credentials • Career exploration • College credit opportunities • Professional networks • Internships and work-based learning
Northwest ISD and Keller ISD high school stu- dents can capitalize on partnerships between the school districts and area businesses and compa- nies that provide internship opportunities. A closer look For the past three school years, KISD and NISD have been above the state average when it comes to students taking courses in Career and Technical Education, or CTE. According to NISD’s website, the CTE programs focus on classroom instruction, workplace instruction and credentialing certi cations that help prepare students for future career paths. NISD has 50 programs of study and o ers CTE courses as early as sixth grade, according to its website. Course work continues throughout high school before internships are needed to provide the capstone course for students, which allows them to apply the knowledge learned throughout their studies. These courses are funneled into a student’s spe- ci c career pathway through three components: classroom instruction, workplace instruction and credentialing certi cations. KISD also o ers a wide variety of paths for internship opportunities and partners with 30 di erent programs of study, such as engineering, business, health care and construction trades. Diving deeper NISD and KISD’s programs have had success stories where internships have led to jobs. Isabel Espinosa attended Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club and was part of the interior design program. She earned an internship at Lambert Homes in Southlake.
Career Technical Education student enrollment
Keller ISD Northwest ISD State average
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Keller ISD, Northwest ISD partnerships with CTE programs
*List is not comprehensive
KISD
Baylor Scott and White-Grapevine
i9 Sports Lockheed Martin
Christian Brothers Automotive
NISD
BNSF Railway
Creekside Pet Care Center
Trophy Club Animal Hospital
Roanoke Fire Department
Both
Medical City Alliance
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital-Alliance
SOURCES: KELLER ISD, NORTHWEST ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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