relationships with students and with parents and being a part of the community.”Teachers must engage students actively, making curriculum pertinent to their lives and career aspirations. Mason reinforces this approach by removing obstacles that prevent teachers from excelling. “We have great folks that we give support to and allow them to have the autonomy to be good at what they do and remove things that get in their way,” he says, recognizing that retaining quality educators requires trusting their professional judgment. CAREER PATHWAYS ALIGNED WITH REGIONAL WORKFORCE NEEDS Wood County’s economy runs on agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing, sectors that require skilled workers capable of stepping into careers immediately after high school. Quitman ISD designs its career and technical education programs to match these demands. “Our strongest programs of study are agriculture,” says Amy Park, director of CTE and college, career, and military readiness.“And we have four paths within that umbrella: the ag business, ag mechanics, plants, and animals. Being a rural farming community, that’s where most of our students gravitate.” The health sciences pathway has grown substantially since UT Health Quitman opened its doors. “With the new hospital that was built here in Quitman four or five years ago, that is the top hospital in our area,” Park notes. “We definitely see the health science pathway growing every year. We offer both the pharmacology certification and also patient care technician where those students are getting handson experience.” Engineering represents the district’s newest Christopher Mason Amy Park 319 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 QUITMAN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
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