Tomball ISD told trustees on Aug. 11 that the district has received state approval to plan a new Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P‑TECH) program focused on teacher preparation at Tomball West High School.

The presentation, led by Chief Academic Officer Dr. Michael Webb and supported by Bob Thompson (educational partner), Dr. Lee Wright (human talent/business partner) and Tomball West principal Kevin Williams, described the Tomball Academy of Future Educators as a "school within a school" that will combine early college coursework, industry‑style work experiences and mentoring.

Why it matters: The academy aims to accelerate college credits, create paid internship and mentoring opportunities with district staff and Lone Star College, and feed new candidates into the local teacher pipeline.

What officials said
- Dr. Michael Webb (Chief Academic Officer) said the district received TEA approval in spring 2025 and is in a planning year. He said the P‑TECH model pairs early college coursework with a deep industry focus and that graduates should have "first in line" interview opportunities with partners.
- Kevin Williams, principal at Tomball West, described recruitment that began in July and outreach to junior highs, and said selected cohort students will be Tomball West students regardless of home attendance zone.
- Dr. Lee Wright summarized the district's role as the business partner, offering mentoring, site visits and internship opportunities; she said students would be eligible for the Grow Your Own program if they later become paraprofessionals hired by the district.

Program structure and numbers
- Tomball Star Academy (existing P‑TECH) has 25‑student cohort caps; the program attracted 96 applicants for 25 slots in the year discussed.
- The proposed Tomball Academy of Future Educators will run district‑wide cohorts capped at about 50 students; the planning timeline has student selection completing in 2026 and the first cohort starting in fall 2026.
- College credit: Juniors and seniors will take most core college coursework at Lone Star College–Tomball; students are expected to graduate with an associate degree (associates of arts or associates of science depending on pathway). Officials noted Lone Star is planning a bachelor's program in teaching by 2027.

Work‑based learning and staffing pathways
District staff described a continuum of experiences from early exposure in ninth grade to deeper internships and paid experiences later, plus mentoring by Tomball ISD staff. If students are hired as paraprofessionals in the district, they would be eligible for the district's Grow Your Own supports to complete teacher certification while working.

Discussion vs. decisions
The workshop was informational. The presentation stated the program had already received state approval in spring 2025 and is in the planning year; the board did not take formal action at the workshop.

Ending note
District leaders said recruitment and information sessions will continue through the fall and emphasized the academy's intent to create a stronger local teacher pipeline and opportunities for students who want instructional, coaching or arts‑related careers in schools.