HOUSTON – HISD is expanding the Barbara Jordan Career Center, opening its hands-on career training programs to students across the district not just those on the northside.
Deputy Chief Daniel Gray says the goal is to ensure every student who wants advanced career training has the opportunity to get it.
Recommended Videos
“We want every single student to have that option,” Gray said. “These are best-in-class, professional-standard programs.”
The center offers training in high-demand fields such as automotive technology, culinary arts, cybersecurity, welding, health science, and HVAC. Students attend part-time while remaining enrolled at their home campuses.
During a recent visit, students were working in a fully equipped mechanic shop, giving them real-world experience.
“We want students to understand exactly what it looks like to work in a real shop,” Gray said. “They’re working on tires, they’re working on small motor vehicles and really the goal is to ensure that any student comes here really understands what it looks like to work in any sort of shop.”
HISD is also redesigning the center with modern labs, flexible learning spaces, and industry-standard equipment to better match today’s workforce needs. Several pathways, including automotive, culinary, cybersecurity, and welding, also offer dual-credit through Houston Community College, allowing students to earn both high school and college credit.
The district handles transportation logistics
“The student doesn’t have to worry about anything. They get dropped up at their home school, we have the buses, the bus will come, take them to here, bring them here, and then they’ll be able to take the class here,” Gray said.
District leaders say the mission is clear: give every student the skills, experience, and opportunities needed to succeed in college, career, or military service.