Stuart Career Tech High School cut the ribbon on the Agricultural Science Academy March 3. The new facilities are a 2019 Bond project.
SCTHS Holds Ribbon Cutting for Agricultural Science Academy
By: Susan Passmore
Goose Creek CISD recently cut the ribbon on the Agricultural Science Academy’s new facilities at Stuart Career Tech High School. Matt Bolinger, executive director of strategic planning and innovation, welcomed everyone and thanked the community for approving the 2019 Bond to make the facilities, which include greenhouses, a floral design area and the facility for the veterinary assistant program, possible.
Tori Fisher and Annabell Robles, led the pledges, and Jennifer Guillory, CTE specialist for academies and accountability, recognized special guests, including City Council member Charles Johnson, Dr. Lynda Villanueva, Lee College president; Dr. Randal O’Brien, Goose Creek CISD superintendent; the executive leadership team; Dr. Cap Roder, principal, Mike Riojas, assistant principal, Brenda Garcia and the Facilities Planning and Construction team, especially Carl Burg; LAN program manager John Carey; Pfluger Architects; Warren Parker from Bartlett-Cocke; Agricultural Science Academy Advisory Committee members; Goose Creek CISD Agriscience Advisory Council members; Baytown Youth Fair Board members; Agricultural Science Academy members Stephanie Brock, Alvaliz Jimenez and Rex Miller, faculty members Debbie King, counselor and Erica Ramirez; and FFA officers.
Guillory introduced Renea Dillon, Goose Creek CISD’s Career and Technical Education director, who served in the dual role as principal of Stuart Career Center for seven of her 11 years in GCCISD and has been recognized by the Gulf Coast Career and Technical Education Association as the 2020-2021 Gulf Coast CTE Administrator of the Year.
"If you attend career days at elementary schools, one of the first things children want to be when they grow up is a veterinarian,” Dillon said. “As they move through the education system, especially with the support of our business partners, they learn more about the opportunities available through the Agriculture Science career cluster.”
Dr. Cap Roder, principal, proudly spoke about the Veterinary Assistant program’s first student to get a job offer in the academy. Annabell Robles, doing an internship at a clinic, was offered a job there in the first week.
Larisa Respondek, director of credentialing for the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, congratulated Goose Creek CISD by video for the new facilities.
After the ribbon cutting, students took the guests on a tour of the greenhouses and the Vet Tech facilities.
Goose Creek CISD began implementing Career Academies in 2014 to help students make the connection between the academic curriculum and the career pathway they want to pursue. They provide a supportive learning environment with small cohorts of students with similar career interests grouped with a team of teachers.
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