Tyler ISD high school students gained valuable insight into their future careers during the district’s annual Pathways to Professions event at the Career & Technology Center (CTC).
The event connects students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study with professionals working in the industries they are learning about in the classroom. Through these conversations, students hear firsthand about career experiences, educational backgrounds, and the steps professionals take to reach their current positions.
Over the course of two days, guest speakers will visit 102 CTE classes throughout the CTC, reaching 1,836 students enrolled in the participating courses. By bringing industry professionals directly into the classroom, Pathways to Professions helps students connect their coursework to real-world careers while gaining a better understanding of industry expectations and the skills employers seek when hiring.
“Pathways to Professions gives our students the opportunity to learn directly from professionals who are working in the fields they are studying,” Tyler ISD CTE Work-Based Learning Coordinator Jessica Brown said. “These conversations help students see how the skills they are developing in the classroom apply to the real world, while also giving them insight into what employers are looking for as they prepare to enter the workforce.”
Featured speakers include American Red Cross, NET Health, UT Health, Soules Food, CBS19, Caliber Collision, Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, City of Tyler, SportClips, Caldwell Zoo, CHRISTUS, Fitzpatrick Architects, Trane Technologies, Southside Bank, Alexander Electrical, and many more.
The event will continue at Tyler Legacy High School on October 27 and 28 and at Tyler High School on November 3 and 4, extending the opportunity for students across the district to connect their CTE coursework with potential career paths.
Through Pathways to Professions and other work-based learning opportunities, Tyler ISD continues to strengthen connections between classroom instruction and industry, helping students explore career options and prepare for success after graduation.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.