TISD announced the new P-TECH via a news release July 1. LSC-Tomball President Lee Ann Nutt said the decision to create the new program was based on demand and teacher shortages.
“We [hope we] create a pipeline of really ... dedicated, caring teachers,” Nutt said.
P-TECH is an open-enrollment high school that allows students to achieve a high school diploma in addition to industry-based certifications, level one or two certificates, and an associate’s degree, per the Texas Education Agency.
How we got here
TAFE is the second program of its kind since TISD launched its first P-TECH program, also in partnership with Lone Star College-Tomball, focused on health care in fall 2023, per prior reporting.
Nutt said in the Tomball Academy of Healthcare, or TAH program, students have the opportunity to earn electrocardiogram, phlebotomy and patient care technician certifications, a level one preprofessional certificate and an associate’s degree.
TISD’s Chief Academic Officer Michael Webb and Dean of Student Advancement Bob Thompson said student retention is high and applications to the P-TECH program continue to increase each year. Nutt said there are currently 68 total students in the program—21 of whom are juniors in the program’s first cohort.
“The best way to describe the impact I’ve seen is when we see the students out in the field, in the classroom, excited, in their scrubs doing their work,” Nutt said. “To see the students enjoy it and benefit and know that they’re into something special is the best reward.”
Looking ahead
TAFE will be housed at Tomball West High School and will begin in fall 2026, when the new school will open.
Students in the program can work toward an associate’s degree, a Texas Education Agency Aide I Certification and get experience in district classrooms, per TISD’s website.
While TISD hasn’t yet had a graduating class for the TAFE program, Webb said the district is looking for ways to fund students from their associate’s degree to their bachelor’s degree through grant funding. Webb said the ultimate goal is for TISD students who want to become teachers to get a bachelor’s degree at no cost.
The application timeline for the TAFE and TAH programs includes the following dates:
- Oct. 20: TAFE and TAH applications open
- Dec. 5: TAFE and TAH applications close
- Dec. 12: TAFE lottery
- Jan. 16: TAH lottery
