Feel Good Story: Tomball ISD CTE Partners with TEDC for Summer Youth Employment Program

September 6, 2024
Tomball ISD CTE Partners with TEDC for Summer Youth Employment Program

“Preparing students for the real world in a real way” is critical to the success of students participating in Tomball ISD Career & Technical Education (CTE). Every opportunity a student receives to gain real-world experiences creates a professional avenue for success post high school.

During the Summer of 2024, Tomball ISD CTE Department partnered with the Tomball Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) to launch a Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The purpose of the program was to create a talent and workforce development initiative while providing TISD CTE students with the opportunity to apply their technical knowledge and skills in a real-world business environment.

“An internship is an important component of a CTE program of study as it allows students to apply the content knowledge, technical skills, and industry-recognized certifications they have acquired to real work in a professional business setting,” said Karla Sandoval, Tomball ISD Director of CTE. “By partnering with the TEDC, our goal is to ensure that the CTE programs that we offer in Tomball ISD align with local businesses and the skills that they will need their employees to possess, both now and into the future.”

Tomball ISD students ages 16 and up were encouraged to participate in the SYEP as an extension of their classroom CTE experiences. A variety of industries were represented, creating diverse opportunities for interested students. 

“In addition to honing their technical skills, student interns benefitted from the opportunity to develop critical job-readiness skills needed across industries such as professionalism, communication, teamwork, initiative and time management,” said Sandoval.

Students interested in the program completed an application and resume. Participating businesses reviewed the applications and selected the candidates they wanted to interview. Limited openings were available, therefore, job placement was not guaranteed to all applicants.

“The Summer Youth Employment Program was a great way for local students to explore career opportunities that exist in Tomball,” said Tiffani Wooten, TEDC Assistant Director. “With such a strong initial response from our local business community, participants got a great understanding of Tomball’s wide-ranging industries. The TEDC continues to emphasize education and workforce development, and I know this program will help further those strategic initiatives.”

12 students, representing all three Tomball ISD high schools, were selected for the program. They were paid $15 per hour and worked 20 hours per week over a 7-week period. Funding for the program was provided by the TEDC and approved by the TEDC Board and the Tomball City Council. 

With favorable feedback from local businesses, the plan is to continue this program in the Summer of 2025. 

“Our partnership with the TEDC was so successful that plans are already being made to expand the program to include even more businesses and student interns next summer,” said Sandoval.