Continuing its commitment toward community involvement, the Houston Airport System (HAS) recently participated in the Mayor’s Office Houston A+ Challenge teacher externship program. For one week in June, a Wheatley High School teacher spent her days with HAS personnel learning the ins and outs of Houston’s three primary airports. Tolu Igbalajobi, a Houston Independent School District (H.I.S.D.) English and career development instructor, first learned about the Houston A+ Challenge program at her school – Wheatley High School – and decided it was a good opportunity to explore new career opportunities for her students. “My particular interest in participating in this program was to broaden my knowledge of what is actually happening in the workplace and to bring this information back to my students,” Igbalajobi said. The Houston A+ Challenge program is a partnership between the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston A+ and H.I.S.D. that

© Houston Airport System Tolu Igbalajobi receives a certificate of completion for her participation in the A+ Challenge externship program from HAS deputy director Luis Perez.

develops and funds school programs, professional development and leadership institutes to promote higher academic achievement by all students. 

The teacher externship component of this program began in 2003 and since then the City of Houston has sponsored a stream of local-area educators. Participating school districts include Houston, Alief, Aldine, Fort Bend, Humble and Spring Branch I.S.D.

“As one of our fastest-growing economic engines, the City of Houston’s aviation department is the ideal location for career exploration and development,” said HAS Director Rick Vacar.

At HAS, Igbalajobi toured Bush Intercontinental Airport’s world-renowned cargo area, learned about master plan projections at Houston’s largest airport and visited with many of the more than 151,000 local individuals employed by Houston’s airports – Ellington Field, William P. Hobby and Bush Intercontinental.

Each year the Houston Airport System generates in excess of $24 billion in positive economic impact for Houston and the local region.

“Before I came here I didn’t know that much about aviation, but now I am very fascinated by the aviation industry,” concluded Igbalajobi about her experience. “I am learning to be a better teacher.”

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