Pasadena ISD honors CTE partners and highlights gains in advanced academics and summer programs

Pasadena Independent School District trustees honored Career and Technical Education partners and heard briefings on advanced academic programs and summer school outcomes at the Sept. 24 meeting.

Tanya Hagar, executive director of Career and Technical Education, introduced regional award winners and business partners who supported CTE programming. Preston Moody of the Pasadena Police Department received a Business‑Education Partnership award for classroom engagement and certification support; Christina (transcript: 'wac') was recognized as a regional CTE champion; and the Sam Raburn High School agriculture mechanics program was commended for multiple competition successes.

Tom Lee, director of Advanced Academics, presented program metrics and said the department has increased identification and participation in gifted and advanced programs since 2021. He reported a 75% increase in identified gifted students and summarized expanded AP, UIL and enrichment participation, plus teacher professional development attendance. "Our leadership team continue to attend, learn and train other leaders in the Greater Houston area," he said.

Becky Benner, executive director for curriculum and instruction, summarized summer programming: roughly 2,798 elementary students participated in elementary summer offerings (including GT camp and pre‑K/bilingual supports), about 1,200 middle schoolers and roughly 2,200 high school students attended summer programs, which together produced tens of thousands of instructional hours and multiple credit recoveries that helped seniors graduate. Extended School Year (ESY) services served 128 students identified for special education supports.

Trustees applauded the students, staff and community partners recognized at the meeting. The presentations were for information; no board action was required on the recognitions or the program reports.