This week, standing before a small group of state and national visitors at the learning staircase of CAST Tech, alumni Julian Perez reflected on his learning by looking back.    By combining computational and design thinking, I’ve been able to tackle challenges from multiple perspectives and develop more effective solutions.   This week, CAST Tech… Continue reading How CAST Alumni Transcends Expectations

I began this note from Monterrey Mexico, at a hotel at the edge of the Parque Fundidora, a metal foundry that has been converted into a giant park with museums, amphitheaters and the largest man-made river in Latin America.   I learned a bit more about the park’s use and its history Wednesday afternoon when… Continue reading A Letter from Monterrey, Mexico

I live near the San Antonio River, and I start most days either running, walking or bicycling along the Mission Reach. I love starting my day in nature, and a bird I pay particular attention to is the Kingfisher. There are several on my route, and one has a spot he returns to one a… Continue reading Happy Holidays from CAST!

11/17/24   I am sitting in the hotel lobby in Monterrey, Mexico, and my brain is buzzing after a quick two-day scouting visit to this Northern Mexican city, just 300 miles south of San Antonio – about equidistant from Dallas in the other direction. At our first meeting, Roberto Alejo, of Mexican IT company Softtek,… Continue reading Musing in Monterrey, Mexico

As we roll into the Thanksgiving holidays, a little crisp settling into the air, students, teachers, and all educators are breathing a sigh of relief as they contemplate turning off alarm clocks, time with family and friends, and turkey, a favorite side, or perhaps pie.   We work in a human-centered business and it is… Continue reading Defining Youth Voice and Agency with CAST’s Student Advisory

Last week, parents at our Advanced Learning Academy (ALA) received a letter from San Antonio Superintendent Jaime Aquino informing them that, as part of a multiparty deal to bring a baseball stadium to downtown, the district had asked the development group to provide $45 million to build a new school for ALA-Euclid, which currently serves… Continue reading An Important Update from SAISD Regarding ALA

Last year at CAST Tech High School, seniors chose the theme of “Legacy” for their capstone projects, identifying different ways to leave a mark on their school. One group of students aimed to improve industry opportunities for CAST Tech students with local tech companies. Another proposed innovative, social solutions to student isolation. Award-winning CAST Ink,… Continue reading Creating Youth Voice and Agency: How CAST is Redefining San Antonio Education and the Student Experience

When the Advanced Learning Academy (ALA) was founded in 2018, teachers were given an opportunity to design elective courses based on their passions, and Stephanie Cash, a founding English teacher, chose leadership. At previous schools, she had been the sponsor for student council and academic leadership organizations such as the National Hispanic Institute, but she… Continue reading Leadership Is Built, Not Born