Keller ISD aims to implement innovative leadership program in fall 2020

Keller ISD is looking to set an example for the rest of the state by offering a new, innovative career and technical student organization, or CTSO, leadership program.

“Currently, this course does not exist in the state of Texas,” said Robert Wright, KISD's director of career and technical education. “We’re asking to write that whole course, and it’ll basically be put out to the whole state for anybody else to use. We’re kind of blazing a trail here.”

CTSOs are groups that offer students practical applications for lessons they learn in the classroom, Wright said. Students often compete on local, regional, state or national levels. These groups include Business Professionals of America, Technology Student Association and DECA.

This proposed leadership course would be designed to teach these students essential leadership skills, social networking strategies, and presentation and communication techniques. Students would also learn how to be successful in fundraising and community outreach efforts, according to KISD Dec. 16 meeting documents.

While other leadership courses are currently available, this program would focus more on practical applications for students who want to pursue specific career pathways, such as engineering, medicine and business, Wright said.

KISD school board members showed overwhelming support for this new initiative, approving it with a 7-0 vote at the Dec. 16 meeting.

If the program is approved by the state, participating students would receive one state innovative career and technical education credit to be counted toward graduation, according to meeting documents.

The career and technical education leadership team, including Wright, has already began writing the curriculum. It will be presented to teachers for input at a later date. The curriculum will then be submitted to the Texas Education Agency for review with the goal of getting it approved in time for the 2020-21 school year, Wright said. The program would be offered at KISD’s four high schools and at the Keller Center for Advanced Learning.