Ingleside ISD

Innovation Meets Family

Preparing Students for Tomorrow’s Workforce

In the coastal community of Ingleside, Texas, education is deeply personal. For Superintendent Dr. Troy Kilgore, leading Ingleside ISD means preserving a small-town, family-centered culture while transforming the district into a model for educational innovation and workforce readiness.

“Our motto is ‘Be Part of the Family,’” Kilgore says. “We take pride in being a district where students, staff, and parents feel connected—but also where we hold ourselves accountable. The world is changing fast, and we want our kids prepared for jobs that don’t even exist yet.”

That combination of family atmosphere and forward vision defines Ingleside ISD’s approach to learning. Situated along the Gulf Coast near Corpus Christi, the district serves a close-knit population shaped by multigenerational roots and a dynamic local economy. Many graduates follow in their parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps—working in energy, maritime, or emerging technologies—but today’s Ingleside student also leaves school equipped for a world that extends far beyond traditional industries.

Education Aligned with Industry

Ingleside’s economic landscape is an educator’s dream: diverse, growing, and collaborative. Local employers—from oil and gas refineries to offshore construction, marine transport, and renewable energy companies—regularly partner with the district to align workforce needs with classroom pathways.

“Just down the road, we have Signet Maritime, which operates the tugboats that guide tankers carrying LNG and oil in and out of port,” Kilgore explains. “They’re now building two electric tugs, which shows how fast this industry is evolving. Then there’s Kiewit Offshore Services, one of the world’s largest builders of offshore oil platforms. Many of our graduates start careers there as welders, fabricators, or millwrights.”

The district works closely with the San Patricio County Economic Development Committee to anticipate regional trends and connect students directly to opportunity. “We meet regularly with local industry leaders,” Kilgore says. “They recognize that we’re developing their future workforce.”

That collaboration led to a new millwright program created in partnership with the local community college. “Companies told us that the skill set was in high demand,” he explains. “Within a year, we had the program up and running.”

Career Exploration from the Start

While most districts introduce career planning in high school, Ingleside ISD starts much earlier. “We realized we needed to help students identify their interests long before they’re 17 or 18,” Kilgore says.

Today, career exploration begins in middle school through a required elective that introduces seventh and eighth graders to a range of pathways—robotics, culinary arts, engineering, manufacturing, and health sciences among them. “It’s about exposure,” Kilgore explains. “They spend part of the year exploring each area so that when they enter high school, they already have a sense of what excites them.”

Even elementary students get a taste of technology and engineering through Lego robotics and basic coding classes. “We’re trying to light that spark early,” he says.

Virtual Reality in the Classroom

One of Ingleside’s most talked-about innovations is its Virtual Reality (VR) Lab, launched through partnerships with local industry. The lab uses advanced VR headsets and gloves to immerse students in interactive simulations—from field trips to the pyramids of Egypt to hands-on experiences like virtual welding and digital anatomy labs.

“Kids can literally dissect a cadaver or perform a virtual weld,” Kilgore explains. “They can pick up a 3D model of a heart, pass it to a classmate across the room, and explore how it functions. That’s the kind of engagement today’s learners need.”

The VR program has garnered statewide attention as a model for experiential learning. “Our students are visual, hands-on learners,” he says. “When they can see, touch, and manipulate information, it becomes real—and it sticks.”

Building a Workforce Pipeline

Ingleside’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) department now offers 10 distinct pathways, from industrial trades and maritime operations to health sciences and digital design. Students earn industry-recognized certifications—including phlebotomy, EKG, and medical assistant credentials—that can lead directly to employment or serve as a foundation for higher education.

“We want kids to have options,” Kilgore says. “They can go straight to work or continue at college. Either way, they’re ready.”

Annual career fairs bring together business leaders, hospital administrators, and local employers to meet students face-to-face. “We’ve had companies interview and hire students right at the fair,” he says. “That’s how powerful these connections can be.”

In addition to the healthcare partnerships, Ingleside works with local manufacturing firms to provide internships and job shadowing experiences. “It’s not uncommon for students to graduate and immediately start careers with six-figure salaries,” Kilgore adds. “That’s the power of workforce education done right.”

Dual Enrollment: College Credit, No Cost

For students pursuing higher education, Ingleside ISD offers dual enrollment through Del Mar College, enabling high schoolers to earn college credit—or even complete an associate degree—before graduation.

“It’s free for families,” Kilgore emphasizes. “We’ve had students graduate high school with two diplomas in hand—a high school diploma and an associate degree.”

The program saves families thousands of dollars in tuition while accelerating students’ postsecondary goals. “For some, it’s the first step toward university,” he says. “For others, it’s a head start on technical credentials that pay dividends immediately.”

Community-Driven Capital Investment

In May 2025, Ingleside voters overwhelmingly approved the largest bond package in the district’s history—passing with nearly 70 percent approval, the highest margin ever recorded locally.

“The process was entirely community-driven,” Kilgore says. “We brought in 40 to 50 residents to tour our facilities, identify needs, and prioritize projects. It was truly a family discussion about what’s best for our kids.”

The bond will fund a district-wide mix of essential improvements and strategic growth, including new buses, HVAC upgrades, roof repairs, and the expansion of Ingleside Elementary School, the district’s oldest and most crowded campus. The renovation will add 10 new classrooms and enhanced safety features to accommodate projected growth from 350 new homes under construction in the district.

“Ingleside may be small, but we’re growing,” Kilgore says. “We’re expecting several hundred new students within the next few years, and this bond prepares us for that.”

Accountability and Innovation

Looking ahead, Kilgore’s top priority is accountability—but not just in the traditional sense of test scores and metrics.

“When we talk about accountability, we mean personal accountability,” he explains. “Every teacher, administrator, and student has a role in our success. It’s about asking, ‘What’s working, what isn’t, and how can we change to get better?’”

That mindset fuels Ingleside’s willingness to experiment with new ideas—from introducing VR in middle school to launching millwright and wind-energy programs aligned with evolving industries. “As soon as you get comfortable, you stop growing,” Kilgore says. “We’re not afraid to think differently if it helps our students succeed.”

A New Model for Education

For Kilgore, the district’s emphasis on career readiness represents a return to an earlier educational ideal—one where schools prepare students for professions, trades, and real-world problem-solving rather than a one-size-fits-all college path.

“When I first started in education, it was all about sending every kid to college,” he says. “But not every student’s success story looks the same—and that’s okay. Today, a student can graduate with certifications, walk into a job making more than many college grads, and build a great life.”

At the same time, Kilgore stresses that college and career are not opposites but complementary choices. “Many of our students continue to learn through apprenticeships, certifications, or additional degrees,” he says. “Education never stops—it just looks different for each person.”

The Spirit of Ingleside

Through all its innovation, Ingleside ISD’s greatest strength remains its family atmosphere—a culture where community and school are inseparable.

“It takes a village to raise a child,” Kilgore says. “And here, they’re all our kids.”

That belief resonates in every corner of the district—from the elementary classrooms introducing STEM through robotics to the high school students earning industry credentials. In Ingleside, education isn’t confined to textbooks or test scores; it’s a living, hands-on journey that connects young learners to their community, their future, and their place in the world.

As Kilgore puts it, “We’re not just preparing students for today—we’re preparing them for tomorrow.”

AT A GLANCE

Who: Ingleside ISD

What: A thriving school district where family meets learning and success

Where: San Patricio County, Texas

Website: www.inglesideisd.org