Harlingen CISD Firefighter Academy sparks real-world career pathways by Laura Tolley
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Harlingen avin Price keeps the childhood photograph that seems to be peeking into his future. Dressed in oversized gear borrowed from a “real” firefighter, a smiling young Price poses in front of a fire truck in Harlingen,
Texas. Today, 22-year-old Price is the proud firefighter responding to fires, assisting at accident scenes, aiding people with medical emergencies, and more. And when he’s in the bay cleaning equipment at a Harlingen Fire Department station, children occasionally wander in wanting to get a selfie with a real firefighter. “It’s definitely a full-circle moment from when I was a kid,” Price said. “I really like what I do. I like to help people.” Price started chasing his dream job a few years ago at an unexpected place — Harlingen High School South, where he went through the Firefighter
Academy. It’s one of a dozen career and technical training academies created by the South Texas district for students interested in getting a head start on a career before graduating. Harlingen CISD and districts across Texas understand that public schools are an essential component of the Texas workforce pipeline and that it’s their mission to prepare students for bright futures. “At HCISD, we believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not,” said Dr. Nolan Perez, the district’s school board president. “Our Firefighter Academy is one of the ways we bridge that gap for students. “When we create programs that open real doors to service and high-skill careers, we show our young people that their future is not limited by circumstance but expanded by opportunity,” Perez said. “Our board is incredibly proud of the students and partners who make this academy a model for what public education can be.” issuu.com/tasb-org | February/March 2026 |
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