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In a Houston-area district serving 60,000 students, career and technical education (CTE) has evolved far beyond the traditional "vocational ed" model. Executive director Brooke Martin oversees programs serving 19,000 students across multiple career pathways, focusing on preparing them for high-paying, high-demand jobs rather than just minimum wage opportunities.
The district's approach relies heavily on data analytics through platforms such as EduThings, which helps administrators track labor market demands, enrollment patterns, and program completion rates. This data-driven strategy ensures students aren't being trained for outdated or oversaturated fields.
Of course, the cliche holds true—they always do things bigger in Teas. When analysis revealed overwhelming demand for healthcare programs across all five high schools, the district partnered with the Memorial Hermann hospital system to open a $32 million healthcare high school offering five unique pathways not available elsewhere in the district.
Beyond traditional metrics, the district tracks comprehensive work-based learning experiences, including internship hours, job shadowing, and mentoring sessions. The goal is for every student to leave with a detailed resume that tells their complete story — not just grades and certifications, but documented real-world experience that demonstrates coachability and readiness to employers.
Looking ahead, the district aims to ensure every student graduates with an industry credential aligned to their interests — meaningful certifications that open doors, not watered-down credentials that lack market value.
To see and hear more about Aldine’s strategies, click here.
