Career and Technical Education

February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month, and we’re excited to kick off a month-long celebration by spotlighting the voices that matter most—our students.

To launch CTE Month, we invite you to watch a special video featuring students from across our district as they share how CTE is preparing them with skills for success, careers for life.Their stories highlight the impact of hands-on learning, real-world experiences, and clear pathways from the classroom to college and career.

In Dallas ISD, CTE is more than a program—it’s a promise. A promise to provide meaningful, relevant learning experiences that empower students to discover their passions, build confidence, and step into their futures prepared.

As we celebrate throughout the month, we also extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible CTE teachers. Your dedication, innovation, and commitment to students open doors every day—connecting instruction to industry, and learning to opportunity.

This month, we’ll host our annual Middle School Career Exploration Showcase, celebrate our educators during CTE Teacher Night with a special guest, and continue highlighting the many ways CTE is transforming education across our district.

CTE Teacher Night is one of our most anticipated events of the year—and this year’s evening promises to be both meaningful and memorable. Designed to recognize the incredible work happening across our campuses, the event brings together CTE educators for professional growth, connection, and celebration.

The evening will begin with a focused professional development session, where teachers will gain valuable insights and practical strategies to support instruction and student success—all while enjoying dinner with colleagues from across the district.

Next, get ready for a fan-favorite tradition: the 3rd Annual Sweet Treat Showdown. This friendly dessert competition returns with even more creativity and flavor, as campuses showcase their best sweet creations. It’s always a highlight of the night and a fun way to celebrate our CTE community.

We will conclude the evening by recognizing excellence across the district during the CTE Teacher of the Year Awards. These awards honor outstanding educators who go above and beyond to prepare students with skills for success and careers for life.

New This Year: Nominate Your CTE Administrator

For the first time, we’re excited to introduce CTE Administrator nominations—an opportunity to recognize campus and district leaders who champion CTE programs and support teacher success.

We look forward to celebrating with you and honoring the passion, innovation, and dedication that define Dallas ISD CTE.

When: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center (Fair Park)

The Dallas ISD CTE team is excited to welcome Tisha Richmond as the keynote speaker for this year’s CTE Teacher Night!

Tisha is a high school Culinary Arts teacher, author, podcast host, and Canva Specialist from Southern Oregon who brings creativity, innovation, and joy to Career & Technical Education. With more than 20 years of experience in Family & Consumer Science and a background as a Technology Integration Specialist, Tisha is known for transforming classrooms into engaging, student-centered learning spaces.

She currently serves as President of Southern Oregon CUE and is a board member of CALIE (formerly CUE), where she champions meaningful technology integration and educator empowerment. Tisha is the author of Make Learning MAGICAL, co-author of the EduProtocol Companion Guide, co-writer of the children’s book Dragon Smart with her son, Tommy, and most recently released The Magical CTE Classroom—a book dedicated to inspiring playful, purposeful, and career-connected learning experiences.

Grounded in real classroom practice and fueled by a passion for CTE, Tisha’s work encourages educators to reimagine what’s possible and create learning environments where students thrive.

Join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate, empower, and uplift our CTE educators at CTE Teacher Night!

Get ready to indulge in something sweet! Our beloved Sweet Treat Showdown returns as a highlight of CTE Teacher Night.

Culinary programs from across the district will share handcrafted desserts that reflect their skills, imagination, and love for the culinary arts. You will be invited to sample these delicious creations, celebrate the artistry behind them, and enjoy the opportunity to connect with colleagues across campuses.

More than a contest, the Sweet Treat Showdown is a chance to build fellowship, highlight the incredible learning happening in our CTE culinary programs, and uplift the students and teachers who make it possible. Together, we’ll savor the talent, teamwork, and passion that define CTE.

Join us for a sweet experience that brings our CTE community together—one dessert at a time!

It’s finally here! We’re excited to welcome well over 3,000 seventh-grade students to the 2026 Middle School Career Exploration Showcase, where they’ll be introduced to all Dallas ISD high school programs of study.

Through hands-on demonstrations and interactive experiences, students will explore real-world applications of their learning and gain insight into career opportunities across all 13 career clusters throughout Dallas ISD. This experience is designed to spark curiosity, build awareness, and help students begin envisioning their future pathways.

To our high school CTE programs attending as exhibitors—get ready to showcase your pathways, certifications, and hands-on learning opportunities. With the support of student ambassadors, you’ll engage directly with middle school students, lead interactive activities, and serve as role models as they begin exploring their high school and postsecondary journeys.

Thank you for helping bring this powerful career exploration experience to life and for inspiring the next generation of CTE students.