Martin High School welcomed educators and administrators from across Texas for a Project Lead the Way showcase, one of only five high school-level events of its kind held statewide this year. The showcase highlighted Arlington ISD’s success in implementing hands-on, career-focused STEM programs across its campuses.
Arlington ISD’s leadership in STEM and career and technical education (CTE) made it an obvious location for the showcase. Last summer, the district hosted a national teacher training for the third consecutive year, welcoming educators from across the country. And since 2002, Arlington ISD has expanded its STEM curriculum to include engineering, biomedical science, and cybersecurity courses at all six traditional high schools and the Career + Technical Center. These programs are designed to improve student engagement and attendance, strengthen college and career readiness, expand equitable access to STEM and CTE, and reinforce core academics through applied learning.
During the showcase, attendees had the opportunity to visit classrooms and participate in a student-led Q&A panel. Students demonstrated their projects and shared personal experiences, giving attendees a firsthand look at how these programs build technical skills, confidence, and real-world readiness.
“All of the attendees were grateful for the showcase and expressed that they left knowing more about the programs than they knew previously,” said Tim Thompson from Arlington ISD’s CTE department. “They also spoke very highly of the students’ abilities and knowledge of the programs.”
Approximately 12 administrators from districts including Fort Worth, Everman, Waco, and Frisco attended, along with Arlington ISD leaders Barry Fox, executive director of transformational learning, and Jeanne Maxwell, postsecondary partnerships coordinator.
Project Lead The Way is a national non-profit organization that provides STEM and CTE programs, offering hands-on, project-based learning experiences designed to build critical thinking, problem-solving, and in-demand career skills. PLTW programs connect students with real-world applications, help them explore diverse career paths, and prepare them for college and future success in STEM fields and beyond.