Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center, currently expected to open for students by the Fall of 2026.

Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, collaborated with Lamar CISD to design and develop the 236,211-square-foot campus that will serve all of the district’s high schools and help prepare students for success in high-demand technical careers.

“It’s about choices and opportunities,” Lamar CISD superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens told attendees during the groundbreaking ceremony. “This means an awful lot to us, but just imagine the generations that this is going to impact. Imagine the community this is going to impact. Imagine the lives this is going to impact.”

District staff and guests from across the area attended to mark the official launch of the project, which will ultimately bring the district’s first dedicated CTE facility, purpose-built to serve the educational and career preparation needs of Lamar CISD students.

Programs of possibility

“We’re living in a time of tremendous growth and opportunity, especially here in Fort Bend County,” said Dr. Kayse Lazar, the district’s director of Career and Technical Education. “By offering state-of-the-art programs that align with these high-demand fields, we are ensuring our students can step into the workforce or pursue higher education with the skills and confidence they need to succeed.”

The Lamar CISD CTE Center will offer a range of programs across several career clusters, including:

• Health Science Career Cluster, incorporating Dental, Pharmacy and Patient Care pathways
• Hospitality & Tourism Career Cluster focused on Culinary Arts
• Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Career Cluster, covering Automotive Technology, Paint & Body, and Distribution & Logistics
• Engineering Career Cluster featuring Drone and Robotics programs
• Arts, Audio Visual Technology & Communications Career Cluster, which will include pathways for Digital Communications and Graphic Design
• Human Services Career Cluster focused on Cosmetology
• Architecture & Construction Career Cluster that will include specialized programming and training in Plumbing & Pipefitting, HVAC & Sheet Metal, Electrical and Carpentry.

Adaptable, industry-informed design

Career programs in areas including automotive, cosmetology, and culinary will give students the opportunity to work directly with customers as part of the curriculum, offering real-world experience as students provide valuable services to area residents. In collaboration with business and community partners, the district’s CTE programs connect students with enriching learning opportunities, industry-based certifications, post-secondary credit, and technical skills to allow them to thrive in a competitive global economy.

“Education, like the workforce, is dynamic. Our CTE work is informed by detailed market analysis that considers workforce needs, educators’ experience, and insights from industry leaders,” said Meredith Watassek, education planner at Stantec. “Understanding projected job growth and internal district needs allowed us to design a center that will help students find fulfilling careers for decades to come.”

The Stantec team works with educators across North American to create learning environments that simulate the real world and offer authentic teaching and learning experiences, with related projects such as: Frisco CTE Center Addition and James Reese Career & Technical Center in Texas, Olathe West High School in Kansas, Arlington Career Center in Virginia, Hobbs Career and Technical Education Center in New Mexico, and Genesee Career Institute in Michigan.

Elaine Bui, a future pharmacy pathway student and current eighth grader at Reading Junior High School, attended the ceremony together with classmates, and said she was excited about how the new center will connect students with experienced CTE instructors who bring specialized industry knowledge and expertise to the classroom.

“I think it will have a major impact and be useful for us as students,” Bui said. “It will teach us more and more about our endorsements and the careers that we want to do.”

Lamar CISD Board of Trustees President Zach Lambert also addressed attendees during the ceremony. He spoke briefly about the history and development of the project, and thanked area residents for their support of the new CTE Center, which was approved by voters as part of the district’s 2022 Bond.

“I want to say thank you to everyone for coming out and supporting this,” Lambert said, “and as trustees, we want to say thank you to the community for supporting these efforts.”

The CTE Center is expected to open for students by the Fall of 2026.