Pfuture Readiness in PfISD: Engaging Students with College and Career Opportunities

Workforce and college readiness initiatives continue to be a major focus in Texas public schools. More stakeholders are reimagining how to prepare students not just after graduation, but during high school. Words like “choice” and “opportunity” have taken on new meaning. Like many districts, PfISD has heard the call from business and civic leaders for schools to prepare the next generation of workers.

With the approval of the 2022 Bond, PfISD will build its first-ever CTE Center, opening in Fall 2027. As we prepare for this exciting future, ensuring students have access to high-quality programs and pathways remains a top priority.

The Office of School Leadership has partnered with Career and Technical Education (CTE) to prepare high school leaders and teaching staff for the launch of the PfISD CTE Center. This work requires collaboration and a clear understanding of the programs that will be offered to ensure alignment with workforce needs and student interests.

Planning has begun to coordinate staffing, schedules, transportation, marketing, and teacher certifications so all stakeholders are ready when the center opens. The first in a series of meetings took place in February, with additional sessions planned at each high school to ensure shared understanding and input into our Pfuture vision.

“The Pflugerville ISD CTE Center is more than just a building—it’s a commitment to re-imagining the workforce and college readiness for our students,” said PfISD’s CTE Director Traci Hendrix, who is leading this innovative effort. “Our challenge is ensuring that every student, regardless of their campus, has access to high-quality pathways that align with both their passions and the evolving demands of the workforce. By removing barriers and strengthening student choice, we are not just preparing them for careers but empowering them to shape their futures.”

One of the center’s core goals is to ensure all students can access the career pathways they’re passionate about, regardless of which campus they attend. Matching programs to student interests across a district can be challenging, and the CTE Center aims to remove those barriers.

Currently, the district offers 21 programs of study. Four are unique to individual campuses, such as Connally High School’s Advanced Manufacturing Career Academy and Pflugerville High School’s Automotive Career Academy. Both offer Level 1 Certificates from Austin Community College, helping students directly enter the workforce or continue toward an associate degree. Six CTE programs offer Level 1 Certificates, and 20 offer industry-based certifications. The CIT P-TECH at Connally High School allows students to earn an Associate’s degree in Cybersecurity.

In addition to earning credits and credentials, many CTE programs offer real-world learning experiences such as internships, site tours, and professional projects. All programs also include Career Technical 

Student Organizations (CTSOs), where students apply their learning through competitions, leadership, and service.

“If we do this right, PfISD CTE programs will be known around the state as exceptional educational experiences that empower students with career exploration, preparation, and real-world experience, equipping them with strong employability skills while connecting them to their community,” says Hendrix. “Through strategic partnerships with business and industry, we align students with in-demand, high-skill careers — creating pathways to generational wealth and strengthening both families and the local economy.”

At every grade level, students should have the chance to dream about their future. Building a future-forward PK-12 experience means rethinking how we support students in both early education and high school through programs, internships, and college-going experiences.

For PfISD, being “Pfuture Ready” begins now—and continues into the Pfuture. ◆