Let's Talk Luling Episode 4: David Smith on CTE, Workforce Development & Building Career Pathways for Luling Students
This post is adapted from Episode 4 of Let's Talk Luling, a podcast produced by DSE Media for the Luling Economic Development Corporation. Watch the full episode on YouTube.
David Smith has been in education for 38 years. He came to Luling 12 years ago with his wife Nicole, raised three kids through Luling schools, and has spent the better part of the last decade building one of the most ambitious CTE programs in the region. Retirement was right around the corner. Then things started moving.
In Episode 4 of Let's Talk Luling, EDC Executive Director Arias sat down with David to talk about what Career and Technology Education actually is, what Luling High School has built, and what's coming next for students who want a clear path from the classroom to a job.
What is CTE and why does it matter?
CTE stands for Career and Technology Education. It came back into Texas schools in 2014 when the legislature recognized that the push toward four-year college had left a gap in skills-based education. But today's CTE isn't the vocational education of the 1970s and 80s. It's sequences of three to four courses that build on each other, tied to industry-standard certifications, and aligned with what employers actually need.
At Luling High School, David oversees 10 programs ranging from welding and animal science to culinary arts, cosmetology, engineering, and construction trades. The goal is to give students a credential they can put on a resume before they graduate and a foundation they can build on whether they go to Texas State Technical College, Austin Community College, or straight into the workforce.
Three kinds of students
David breaks students into three natural clusters. Some gravitate toward abstract thinking, research, and science. Others have an innate desire to help people and end up in nursing, teaching, hospitality, or event planning. And then there are the tinkerers, the ones who want to take things apart and put them back together. CTE exists to meet all three where they are, help them identify what they're naturally good at, and line them up with programs that will actually serve them.
Career awareness starting in elementary school
The work doesn't start in high school. David and his team are building career awareness programs for elementary students and a planning-level curriculum for junior high. On March 30th, eighth graders from Luling ISD will get an aptitude test and interest assessment, tour the high school's CTE programs, and meet with Texas Workforce Solutions to understand what jobs are actually available and what they pay. The goal is to give students enough context to start making intentional choices before high school even begins.
On May 9th the CTE department is opening its doors to the whole community at the Civic Center. Every program will have a display. Parents, residents, and potential employers are all invited to see what Luling High School is actually producing.
The Tesla model and what it proves
The Tesla career pathway program that the EDC ran with the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Texas gave David a template he wants to replicate. Students 18 to 21 enrolled in a 7 to 9 week paid training program and came out with a guaranteed job at Tesla. Two have already graduated and are working. Eight more are on the way.
David's version of that model runs through the new career prep class launching next year. It's a fourth-year capstone course that connects students with local businesses, trade workers, and industries in and around Luling. The idea is that a student finishes the course, graduates in May, and starts a job a few weeks later without the gap that typically sends young people in the wrong direction.
Crossbow and TSTC: a pipeline in the works
One of the most significant conversations happening in Luling right now involves Crossbow Systems, the solid rocket manufacturer in Luling's business park, and Texas State Technical College. Arias and David recently met with TSTC's provost to explore whether a curriculum focused on solid rocket manufacturing could be developed specifically to funnel students into careers at Crossbow.
Nothing is finalized. But the vision is straightforward: Luling ISD prepares students through CTE, TSTC provides the technical credential, and Crossbow provides the job. A complete pipeline that keeps talent in Luling rather than losing it to other markets.
On AI and the changing workforce
David doesn't shy away from what's coming. AI is already working its way into CTE curriculums. One vendor he met with recently demonstrated an AI interview coach that listens to a student practice answers and critiques them in real time. China has already mandated AI literacy in schools nationwide. The jobs students are preparing for today may look completely different or not exist at all by the time they graduate.
His message to students and parents: college is a choice, not the only path. The economy is changing too fast to treat a four-year degree as the default. CTE programs paired with technical certifications and industry partnerships offer a faster, more direct route to a stable career and Luling High School has spent years building exactly that.
A note to parents
David closed with a direct ask. Talk to your kids about what Luling High School has to offer. Come to the May 9th event at the Civic Center. The CTE program has been operating quietly for years and producing real results. It's time more people knew about it.
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