PCDC grants fund cutting-edge career technology for Pflugerville ISD

A strong workforce and educational system are central to economic development, and Pflugerville Community Development Corporation is committed to furthering career and technical education at all levels. Recent grants awarded to the Pflugerville Independent School District augmented programming at local high schools by putting more hands-on equipment in the classroom. The ripple effects of these investments extend beyond high school to higher education and the workforce, and even touch lower grade levels as middle school and elementary school students witness the opportunities awaiting them in secondary school.

Welding program grant prepares students for advanced manufacturing

A recent community engagement grant award from PCDC provided partial funding toward a large CNC cutting table for welding programs in the ISD. A CNC, or computer numerical control, machine allows for the automation of machine processes and is an essential component of advanced manufacturing due to the repeat precision it provides. With the addition of a cutting table, students can learn how to use industry-standard equipment and processes.

“This is in line with what we see in today’s advanced manufacturing programs,” Traci Hendrix, Career and Technical Education Director at Pflugerville ISD, said. “It helps them learn the skill sets of designing and programming the design into the computer, sending the work to be done, and then supervising the completion or fabrication of the work.”

The CNC table will join other recent purchases utilizing PCDC and Workforce Solutions grants, including a robotic arm used in post-secondary manufacturing training programs, a laser engraver and cutting machine, and a CNC desktop mill. 

High-demand job training grant boosts healthcare courses

In January, Pflugerville ISD received funding approval from PCDC for a high-demand job training grant administered through the Texas Workforce Commission. PCDC and Workforce Solutions will co-apply for the grant and agree to provide matching funds of up to $150,000 each if TWC approves the grant.

“With these grant funds, we are trying to expand our healthcare therapeutic program, one of the largest in the district,” Hendrix said. “We offer it at all four of our high school campuses. It’s a strong program, but we’re always looking for opportunities to expand and provide students with more exposure and preparation in various fields within the healthcare industry.”

Students can become certified medical assistants or licensed EMTs through the current program, and the district plans to expand into other sectors, such as radiology and surgical technology. Following discussions with PCDC and Workforce Solutions to align course offerings with demand, the decision was made to pursue a virtual training experience for students.

If approved, Pflugerville ISD would be the first district in Central Texas with the technology. It converts any room, such as a standard classroom, into an immersive learning experience using projectors, software, and other equipment. The space can be transformed into an assortment of clinical settings – a hospital operating room, a sterile processing lab, or a doctor’s office.

“It will allow our students and teachers to be in the space together and really immerse them in a setting that is difficult to access in real life,” Hendrix shared. “It can be challenging to get into a hospital with the number of students we have in the program at one time and show them everything we want to show them.”

The virtual environment would be coupled with a surgical technology mannequin—a high-definition simulator capable of mimicking any surgical setting—and online simulators. The transition to virtual reality settings mirrors the evolving college experience and helps students prepare for those environments.

New tools augment strong CTE foundation at Pflugerville schools

Pflugerville ISD maintains a strong career and technical education program. Hendrix reports that approximately 86% of students in the district will take at least one CTE course, but many complete entire programs of study.

“We strive to offer the best programs we can and align with in-demand industries,” Hendrix shared. “We want to prepare students for the opportunities that will be available when they graduate and can provide a living wage, plus the opportunity for career advancement.”

The welding courses benefiting from the CNC cutting table, for example, are part of applied agricultural engineering studies. A welding specialization is offered in the program, and throughout high school, a progression of courses leads to an industry-recognized welding certification. In their second year, students pursue more lab-based work in agricultural mechanics, including welding. They learn foundation skills, such as arc welding, and refine techniques before advancing to other types of welding, like MIG.

“By the time they get to their senior year, a lot of our students are pursuing internships with advanced manufacturing companies in our area, and those partnerships have been developed with a lot of support from PCDC,” Hendrix added. “This school year, we’ve added two new industry partners where students participate in a paid internship and put their welding skills to work as their employers train them on even more techniques. As they’re building their skill set, students can also become certified welders through the American Welding Society.”

Similar progression opportunities exist in 20 CTE programs, including six career academies, in Pflugerville ISD, and students are eligible to earn articulated college credits through Austin Community College with certain courses. With a qualifying course, students bank the credit, and if they enroll at ACC and successfully complete another course, the banked credits apply to their college transcript for free. Hendrix said it’s part of the school district’s commitment to providing multiple outcomes for students – college credits, a certificate, or other credentials. The career academies incorporate articulated and dual credit, helping students earn a Level 1 College Certificate before high school graduation with no tuition, textbooks, or college fees.

A byproduct of advancements in the career space at high school is the opportunity to market programs to incoming students. With tours and early introductions added to existing career fairs, field days, and middle school exploratory courses, younger students can better understand the training offerings they will encounter in high school.

To learn more about how Pflugerville Community Development Corporation is contributing to the workforce of tomorrow, visit our website or contact us today!