Fostering a culture of College and Career Readiness

The responsibility to prepare children to become the future leaders of their communities is one not taken lightly and is at the center of every opportunity developed by leaders in Collin County and beyond.

In a recent panel, moderated by Christal Howard, CEO of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, local leaders and students including Dr. Tom Maglisceau, Celina ISD superintendent, Dynette Davis, Frisco ISD Board of Trustees president, Dr. Lori Batchelor, Children’s Health senior director of clinical talent and academic partnerships, and Fardeen Ahmend and Abdulla Alsaad, both dual credi students of Frisco ISD, discussed taking on the challenge of creating a path of opportunity in education toward career readiness. 

“At Celina ISD, we’ve doubled in size in the four years I have been at the district…we’re still a bit behind on career development and career and technical education (CTE) programming, but we’re adding that to our high school right now. That’s bringing opportunities for our kids in a lot of ways,” Dr. Maglisceau said. “In reaching out to our partners we recognize that we have a whole community that’s part of our learning organization … a lot of companies, organizations, hospitals, that are now coming to our district to provide opportunities from the very beginning. We have that next level thinking, recognizing our responsibility, and embracing it.”

Dr. Batchelor provided insight as an industry leader adding that creating more opportunities at Children’s Health is how the clinical talent and academic partnership department came about. The goal for this department is to foster partnerships that can provide resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for students.

“Our organization realized a couple years ago that we needed to think a little bit differently about the way we look for talent within North Texas,” Dr. Batchelor said. “We must partner with academic organizations and local school districts to tap into resources like young students sooner than when they are seniors in high school. Our organization recognizes the most important asset is their people, and we have been given the power to build those relationships within our community.”

“Collin College is one of our fast friends and we’re doing a lot of innovative things here, but also starting conversations with ISDs.”

Promoting the growth mindset, encouraging students to embrace challenges and learning opportunities has set both Ahmend and Alsaad for success in their educational future.

“Our educators have been so pivotal and such a great resource for us students,” Alsaad said. “The hands-on experience in careers we want to get into … things that we learn in class are things that I do on a daily basis in my internship. That just comes to show how important and valuable these opportunities are that Frisco ISD and Collin College give us.”

The culture of college and career readiness is one that takes a unified mindset from leaders, change makers, and communities that support abundant opportunities for students. It is supported by students who are willing to take on a challenge and be committed to preparing for their own future.