Karla Sandoval (THS, '83)

KARLA SANDOVAL
Tomball High School, 1983
Director of Career & Technical Education (CTE)

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She is passionate about Career and Technical Education (CTE) and even more passionate about helping students. 

For Karla Sandoval, leading the CTE charge in Tomball ISD feels like the perfect fit for this alumna. Currently serving as the Director of CTE, Karla returned home in 2019 and immediately began what she came home to do.

“When the opportunity became available [to return home], I jumped at the chance to help expand the CTE programs in my hometown!”

Karla is a 1983 graduate of Tomball High School and moved to town when she was in the sixth grade. While in Tomball, she attended Hufsmith Intermediate, Tomball Junior High and Tomball High School. 

Following high school, Karla attended Sam Houston State University to pursue a degree in Teaching, Drama and English as well as a Masters degree from Prairie View A&M in Counseling.

She began her work in CTE as a high school counselor working to help students get enrolled in specialized CTE programming.

“I love helping students tap into their own interests and strengths as they take their first steps into a career field!”

During her career, she also served as a classroom teacher and prior to joining Team Tomball, she worked as the Director of Academies/Academy Coordinator at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School in a neighboring district from 2013 to 2019.

Her career has allowed her to explore other areas and other roles but nothing compares to the people in Tomball and their support of the students educated here every day. For her, that, along with connecting to its small-town roots, is what makes this school district and community so special. 

“Tomball has grown so much but one of my favorite changes involves the addition of a Lone Star College campus in our own community,” she said. “I remember driving past that empty land years ago and my mom saying that someday there would be a college there. In my work as CTE Director, our strong partnership with LSC-Tomball is critical in order to connect TISD students with incredible post-secondary opportunities!”

CTE has a way of creating unique and innovative opportunities to prepare students for the real world in a real way and Karla has helped shape the future of CTE here in Tomball ISD since her return. Tomball now offers 28 career pathways, ultimately providing innovative experiences for all students.

“I am passionate about the opportunities that CTE programs provide,” she said. “Exposing our students to various career pathways helps them make informed and confident decisions about their options after they complete their education in Tomball ISD.”