Lubbock ISD spotlights Career & Technical Education: AgrisTEM, ATC tours, SkillsUSA and Rocket Club

Lubbock Independent School District highlighted multiple career and technical education (CTE) programs and community partnerships aimed at connecting students with postsecondary and workforce options.

Amy Baker, executive director of Career and Technical Education, described CTE as a “kindergarten through 12th grade approach” that supports career awareness and industry training. Baker said Lubbock ISD is using CTE Month in February to spotlight alumni outcomes, certifications, internships and the district’s pipeline into local employers and higher education.

AgrisTEM: a campus-based regional program A program representative described Lubbock ISD’s AgrisTEM center — created from the 2018 bond and located on the Texas Tech University campus — as serving students from all five Lubbock ISD high schools (Coronado, Estacado, Lubbock High, Monterey and Talkington). The program representative said AgrisTEM offers four programs of study (animal science, food science, plant science and environmental and natural resources) and that students may earn industry-based certifications before graduation. The district also opened the Roger Green Supervised Agricultural Experience Center to house student livestock projects.

Byron Martin ATC and middle-school outreach District staff and student ambassadors led tours of the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, bringing fifth graders to see programs in automotive, nursing, culinary and other CTE pathways. The district said these visits are intended to help younger students start thinking about future career options and select middle- and high-school coursework aligned to workforce pathways.

Rocket Club and university partnership Stewart Elementary’s Rocket Club launched with a pilot funded by Texas Tech’s STEMCore. The club builds rockets, stages launch parties for families and provides hands-on aerospace learning. Program organizers stressed community partnerships and Texas Tech support as key elements that expanded the pilot to a year-long program.

SkillsUSA and student leadership development Students and district officers described SkillsUSA leadership trips and competitions as a major component of CTE leadership training. Grant McCall, SkillsUSA Texas District 3 president, said fall leadership events train students in teamwork, communication, resumes, multicultural awareness and other soft skills employers expect. Students who attended the Washington Leadership Training Institute met with federal representatives to advocate for CTE funding through the Perkins Act. Monterey students also reported that SkillsUSA participation supported internship and scholarship opportunities, and a team from the district won a national title in video game design at SkillsUSA Nationals.

Why it matters District leaders framed CTE as a pipeline to both immediate employment and further education: students can earn credentials such as CNA, phlebotomy or meat-cutting certifications or move into engineering and production programs at universities. The described partnerships with local businesses, hospitals and Texas Tech aim to align classroom training with employer needs in agriculture, health care, IT, welding, drones and culinary trades.

What the district said it will do next The district will continue CTE Month activities, increase visits of younger students to ATC and AgrisTEM facilities, and promote internships and employer partnerships to expand the local talent pipeline.