News

Corporate College-HISD partnership hold first graduation

Oct 31, 2013

Dozens of HISD’s plant operators have been working hard this year to improve their skill sets in order to better serve their campuses, and many of them gathered at the district’s Construction and Facilities Services headquarters on Aug. 9 to celebrate their accomplishments.

A reception was held for the 120 plant operators who had finished one of several two-week, 40-hour classes offered in partnership with the Houston Community College System (HCC) between April and June, and each received a certificate of completion, a pair of gloves, and congratulations from various HISD and HCC representatives.

“I have never seen such an enthusiastic group of students in all my years with HCC,” said lead instructor George Clark. “I don’t have the words in my vocabulary to describe it. We had classes and you never wanted to leave, even after working all day. That brought out our best.”

“It was an honor to be your instructor,” added instructor Alton Frye. “The fact that you all appreciated what I was doing allowed me to give more. We look forward to (class) number two.”

HISD Senior Maintenance Trainer James Mora noted that one of the unexpected benefits of this professional development course was the opportunity for plant operators from across the district to network. “I’m seeing plant operators who’ve never met one another talking, comparing notes, and taking down phone numbers. And that’s a good thing.”

Joe Little, director of HCC’s Corporate College, said that every person in the room had contributed to the course’s success. “We knew we could have something special if we created a great partnership between HISD and HCC,” he said. “You all are the proof in the pudding.”