North Texas Career Pathways Point to Texas’ Future

From robotics demonstrations to healthcare career stories, the Educate Texas Education to Career Showcase put student voices at the center of a conversation about the future workforce of North Texas.

Hosted at Communities Foundation of Texas, the event brought together educators, employers, and higher education leaders to highlight how College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM) are preparing students to succeed.

A Vision Beyond a Diploma

Educate Texas is committed to finding solutions to the biggest challenges in public education so that every student graduates with more than a diploma. CCRSM campuses, including Early College High Schools (ECHS) and Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH), make that possible for students. They are leaving high school with college credit, industry-recognized credentials, and work-based learning experiences that give them a purposeful path forward and real earning potential.

Designing Systems That Work

Keynote speaker Lynn McBee, CEO of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network and workforce czar for the City of Dallas, challenged attendees to think about what it means to create an education-to-career system that works for every student.

“At the heart of this challenge is an education system that is not consistently delivering on the promise to prepare young people for life after high school,” McBee said. “If we re-design our education system correctly, we can stop the cycle of poverty before it starts.”

She emphasized that real progress requires working side by side, stating, “When schools, employers, nonprofits and government pull in the same direction, we create a powerful network of opportunity.”

Student Voices Matter

The most inspiring moments came from the student and alumni panel, where young people spoke about how CCRSM has shaped their lives.

Zaire, a robotics student from Lancaster ISD, explained how hands-on learning has opened doors: “Once I get my drone license, I can go out and do internships for real money. What makes our program different is that it provides opportunities like this, along with teachers who really care.”

Jaida, a senior at Bowie High School in Arlington ISD, shared how her P-TECH pathway gave her skills she could immediately apply at home: “My grandfather was on hospice. Through the program, I learned how to take his blood pressure, monitor his heart rate, and manage his medications. Those skills helped me and my family for all those months.”

Stephanie, an alumna from Grand Prairie ISD who is completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), said her program helped her grow: “Before high school, I was introverted and shy. With the nursing program, I learned how to talk to people, hold conversations, and interact with patients. It helped me break that wall down and prepared me to succeed in nursing school.”

CCRSM is not only equipping students with credentials but also with confidence and purpose. Behind each of these pathways is a partnership. The robotics program that inspired Zaire, the healthcare pathway that guided Jaida, and the nursing program that gave Stephanie a head start on her BSN all exist because business and community leaders have invested in schools and students.

Partnerships in Action

Andy Smith, executive director of the Texas Instruments Foundation, spoke about the long-term commitment needed to see change. The foundation has invested more than $80 million through Educate Texas since 2010, including a decade-long partnership in southern Dallas County districts such as Lancaster ISD, Cedar Hill ISD and DeSoto ISD.

“Education is truly a game changer, but you have to be committed for the long haul,” Smith said. “This work is not an overnight wonder. It takes sustained effort and partnership.”

Maria Martineau of Medical City Healthcare, representing the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s support of Arlington ISD’s Bowie High School P-TECH program, emphasized how these partnerships connect education and workforce.

“We are committed to creating opportunities for students to explore healthcare careers early,” Martineau said. “By supporting P-TECH pathways, we are building a pipeline of future professionals who are prepared to meet the workforce needs of North Texas.”

HCA Healthcare Foundation recently renewed a $1 million partnership with Educate Texas, strengthening healthcare pathways across the region and expanding opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience.

A Brighter Future Together

In her closing remarks, Kerri Briggs, Ph.D., executive director of Educate Texas, reminded everyone of the mission driving this work.

“Every high school student should graduate with more than a diploma,” Briggs said. “They should leave school with the skills, credentials and experiences to succeed in college, career and life.”

Together, education, business and community leaders can create a future where every student has the chance to earn a good living, pursue a purposeful career and realize bold dreams. Educate Texas will continue to bring partners together to solve big challenges and open doors for students across the state.

If you are interested in partnering to create opportunities for students, we want to work with you.  Reach out to us at strategicpartnerships@cftexas.org. Prospective campuses can also learn more or apply to join the CCRSM network at texasccrsm.org/get-involved/program-application.