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Clear Creek ISD spotlights 50‑year Trooper School and child guidance CTE that trains high‑school students to work with preschoolers
Summary
The board heard a program spotlight on Clear Creek ISD’s child guidance Career & Technical Education program (Trooper School), which places high‑school students with preschoolers, offers industry certifications and guarantees interviews for qualified program completers.
LEAGUE CITY, Texas — Clear Creek Independent School District highlighted its child guidance Career & Technical Education (CTE) program — including the Trooper School at Clear Creek High School, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary — during the board’s Feb. 24 meeting.
The program enrolls high‑school students in a sequence of courses that teach early childhood development and classroom skills while pairing them with preschool children ages 3 to 5. Dana Morgan, Career and Technology Education director, told the board each participating campus serves roughly 20 to 25 preschoolers annually, and students in the program develop lesson plans, lead activities and gain two industry‑based certifications: Early Childhood Education and Education Aide I.
"Students that go through the program successfully and get a reference from their teacher can actually become substitute teachers right after graduation," Morgan said, summarizing a district practice that shortens the usual work‑experience requirement for substitutes.
Morgan and other presenters said the program produces workforce benefits as well as classroom outcomes: last year about 20 district graduates from the child guidance and teacher education programs were working in CCISD as educational aides or substitutes. Successful completers also receive a letter of assurance guaranteeing an interview with CCISD when they complete postsecondary studies in education.
Teachers and alumni also spoke during the spotlight. Christine Fanders was introduced as the Trooper School teacher (22 years at the program) and Allison Myman was identified as a former Trooper School student now teaching at Clearbrook High School. Clearbrook High School teacher Lisonbee Beidman described supervising high‑school students as they develop age‑appropriate lessons and activities. Clear Creek High School engineering teacher Ty Halford, who participated in the program as a student and whose child attends the program, said the experience "helps kids understand, hey, this is what I want to do when I grow up."
Three current student participants — Grace Rios (Clearbrook High School), Farrah Baikie and Nadim Rabani — told trustees the program helped them confirm career directions and build classroom management, leadership and communication skills. Grace said she joined because she "always loved working with kids and teaching them new skills." Nadim said the program grew his leadership skills and helped him decide between pediatric and teaching career options.
Board members praised the program and its long tenure in the district. Morgan noted that the Trooper School and related child guidance programs have produced multiple teachers and principals who began as student participants.
The spotlight concluded with trustees encouraging broader participation; staff said the program’s goals include both preparing future educators and giving high‑school students transferable workplace and leadership skills.
No formal board action was required for the program spotlight.
