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Since graduating from CAST STEM in 2024, Priam Nuques has been attending St. Mary’s University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Energy. Priam has also been maintaining a strong […]

About six months ago, I was preparing for my final interview to become CAST’s Executive Director. The board had asked me to tell my leadership story, and like many educators, […]

One of the biggest ways CAST Tech impacted me was through the three years I spent learning about IT and cybersecurity from my amazing teacher, Mrs. Jones.” Joseph Gentile, reflected […]

A movement is not built by one individual, but by a coalition, a community. I want to thank each of you who have joined with CAST Schools to interrupt patterns […]

In the past few years since graduating from CAST STEM in 2024, Esther Alele has been expanding her horizon as both a student and a young professional. Esther currently attends […]

Montserrat Monreal, ALA ‘19 has blazed her own trail as a first-generation college student. After graduating from the Advanced Learning Academy, Montserrat earned her Bachelor of Business degree from St. […]

Written by Jeanne Russell At CAST Schools, we believe in nurturing our homegrown talent. Of course, this starts with a belief in our students, and their gifts and talents. But […]

Adrian Hernandez, CAST STEM ‘23 initially attended college to pursue Mortuary Science while working part-time at the Majestic & Empire Theater and The Espee. Through his work experience, he discovered a […]

Wednesday morning, as a sea of 8th grade students fanned out across a UTSA ballroom, social studies Manuel Vega looked across the room and pronounced: “the future of our city […]

At CAST Schools, we believe social capital shouldn’t be something young people stumble into by accident of birth or zip code. It should be designed — intentionally, equitably, and with […]

Labiba Tatana, CAST Med ‘25 has been thriving through her first year at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Labiba is majoring in neuroscience with a concentration in pre-medical […]

At a recent CAST STEM meeting, the students and Principal Jacque Rodriguez surprised me with this thank you video. At the risk of being self-indulgent, I wanted to share this […]

In May of 2025, Isis Jimenez, ALA ‘25, was awarded as a recipient of the CAST Schools Network College Assistance Program. Since then, Isis has continued her education at San […]

The first time I met Jennifer Maestas was in 2019, at a coffee shop that has since closed. It was prior to COVID and CAST Schools was a tiny startup […]

“Take every opportunity you can—internships, clubs, certifications, mentorships. Even the small experiences can open doors later,” shared Mary Naw, CAST STEM ‘22. As a CAST STEM student, Mary participated in […]

As we enter 2026, I am reflecting upon how we closed out 2025. “Not one single person was on their own in a business, it was always a partner connecting […]

As we close out the year 2026, we are asking our industry partners, our staff, our leaders, our alumni, and our students the question: “what makes a good school?” As […]

On Friday, I joined other local industry leaders as part of CAST Tech’s annual Legacy Day, providing early feedback on projects the high school seniors spend the entire year developing. […]

To Terrance Patrick, CAST Tech ‘21, obtaining his bachelor’s degree at the University of North Texas (UNT) is his biggest accomplishment. An accomplishment fast-tracked due to the 42 credit hours […]

As we head into a weeklong break for schools, my wish for anyone reading this newsletter is restorative rest, joy and laughter. My appreciation for the work of educators is […]