La Joya, TX - February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and La Joya ISD is spotlighting how its CTE programs are equipping students with the skills, credentials, and confidence needed to thrive beyond graduation.
CTE is built on three key pillars: industry-based credentials, P-TECH & early college opportunities, and strong partnerships with business and higher education. Together, these components ensure that students graduate with meaningful options and real-world preparation.
By offering industry-based credentials aligned to labor market data from the Texas Workforce Commission, students are prepared for high-demand, high-wage careers across the Rio Grande Valley and throughout the state.
“Our goal is simple: make sure every student graduates with options,” said Pablo De Leon, Director of Career and Technical Education for La Joya ISD. “Through our CTE programs, students gain skills, earn certifications, and build confidence so they can step into college, the workforce, or the military ready for what comes next.”
Students can graduate with credentials supporting careers in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, information technology, business, public service, and more - providing practical skills that carry value beyond high school.
Through Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH), students can earn up to 60 college credit hours and, in many cases, an associate degree at no cost to families while still in high school. These programs allow students to gain hands-on experience, earn industry-recognized certifications, and graduate with a competitive advantage.
Beginning in ninth grade, students across the district can select from a wide range of Programs of Study, including Animal Science, Carpentry, Digital Communications, Business Management, Culinary Arts, Welding, Automotive Technology, Health Science, Cosmetology, Law Enforcement, Engineering, and Manufacturing Technology.
Each pathway builds skills year after year, leading to certifications such as Adobe Creative Suite, AWS Welding, ASE Automotive, Phlebotomy Technician, Educational Aide I, SolidWorks, ServSafe Manager, and more.
Every CTE and P-TECH pathway at La Joya ISD is strengthened by partnerships with industry leaders and higher education institutions. These collaborations provide students with internships, workforce training, mentorship, and real-world learning experiences.
“CTE works because it connects what students learn in school to what employers and colleges actually need,” De Leon said. “These partnerships give our students exposure to real careers and help them see themselves in those roles.”
CTE at La Joya ISD is about opportunity, access, and results. This CTE Month, the district celebrates the students, educators, and community partners who make it possible for learners to graduate with skills, credentials, and a clear path forward. Aligned to La Joya ISD’s Achieving Excellence Together 2030 Strategic Plan, CTE advances Priority 2: Empowered Graduates by ensuring students leave high school prepared with meaningful options, and supports Priority 3: Thriving Students by providing engaging, high-quality learning experiences that build confidence, competence, and career readiness. Through intentional pathways and strong partnerships, La Joya ISD ensures learning leads to opportunity - and every student graduates future-ready.
For more on this initiative and other district efforts supporting student success, check out the February 2026 edition of The Pack Connection. Click https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r01/___https://aptg.co/GYkxyZ___.YzJ1Omxham95YWlzZDE6YzpvOjhmMWYxNWM3M2Y1YmJkODNiNDIy for the latest.