By Jessica Rivera
Public Communications
Humble ISD eighth-grade students explored future career options during the district's first-ever CTE Discovery Day on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Humble Civic Center.
The event, similar to a career fair but more hands-on, allowed students to participate in interactive activities such as changing tires, planting seeds and practicing CPR. The goal was to introduce students to career pathways they can pursue in high school.
Held during the school day, the event removed barriers that prevented students from attending after-school career exploration events.
“We wanted to take away the barriers that were keeping kids from seeing our programs, so when they get to high school, they won't say that they didn't know something existed,” CTE Coordinator Kelli Sharp said.
A Kingwood Middle School teacher happily said that the event encouraged students to consider a wide range of career options beyond professional athletics.
Middle school students showed enthusiasm, while the high school students assisting the event enjoyed sharing their skills and hoped to make it a memorable experience for the younger students, noting that an opportunity like this one could have helped them choose a career path as they entered high school.
“It’s been so fun. I saw so many kids saying, ‘Wow, I didn't know this existed.’ Now they get to make informed decisions before they go into high school,” Sharp said.
The event was sponsored by Smart Financial Credit Union’s Kingwood branch.
To learn more about Humble ISD’s Career and Technical Education programs, visit the Humble ISD CTE website.