A red iron beam attached to a crane sways in the wind of a brisk autumn day over the construction of one of two new Career & Technology buildings on the Campus of Texas High School as a crowd assembles near the future CTE Building 1 site. Students and faculty gather around a bright white ceremonial iron beam with metallic-colored Sharpie pens, eager to leave their mark on the school’s history.
A beam signing ceremony on Nov. 21, 2024, marked one year until the completion of the CTE buildings being built at THS. The beam represents the foundation of the CTE programs in TISD.
“It’s really impactful, as it gives all of our students an opportunity to be represented, even if they couldn’t be here,” assistant principal Dr. Jacquelyn Smith said. “It represents the different departments that we have in CTE, and so it’s heartwarming.”
“It’s a structure, and you can see the symbolism of the structure,” principal Ben Renner said. “What they’re predicting right now is if everything goes like it’s supposed to, by October of next year, CTE one -and later, CTE two-[should be] near completion, and we’re going to be moving in and using those facilities.”
Student representatives attending the event had the opportunity to leave their imprint on a project that aspires to benefit the district for years.
“The beam signing represents what I’ve done here at Texas High,” junior David Mayo said. “I’m thankful to be here and glad that I’ve literally and figuratively left my mark here.”
The importance of this event and commemorating its construction stems from the opportunities it delivers to students looking to further their careers and education in fields such as medicine. In instances like this, the new facility and newly formed partnerships with local educational institutions present numerous opportunities for these aspiring students.
“We’re working with Texarkana College and Texas A&M Texarkana so that we can extend the opportunity for students to graduate with an LDN, an entry-level nurse [certification],” Renner said. “ From there, that student could choose to go to Texarkana College, and in one year, they could get an RN, which generally takes between three to four years at Texarkana College, in one year. Which is serious money, and they can go anywhere.”
