TEMPLE, Texas — The Temple Independent School District will be collaborating with the Center for Educational Outreach at Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Health to implement a STEM+M (science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine) health professions pathway program for high school students. The pathway program will begin in the 2026-2027 school year and is designed to provide both formal course curriculum and experiential health science learning opportunities for students.
The Temple ISD Board of Trustees approved and signed a memorandum of understanding with Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Health during Monday night’s (March 9) board meeting allowing the collaboration to move forward for the upcoming school year. The STEM+M curriculum for the pathway program will provide Temple ISD educators with educational guidance, resources, and professional development opportunities. Baylor Scott & White Health will provide mentoring from healthcare professionals and hands-on training experiences for students, including an annual open house on the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple campus.
The new collaboration is part of a vision that started three years ago between the institutions. The idea was to create coursework and learning opportunities for Temple High School students while also putting those students directly in front of the top medical experts in the country. The collaboration will also help complete a localized pipeline for the healthcare professions and involve students in both Temple High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Advanced Academics programs.
“If I am a parent with a student interested in becoming a physician, nurse, physical therapist, or physician assistant, I could think of no better prepared pathway than what we will now offer at Temple High School,” said Dr. Bobby Ott, superintendent of schools for Temple ISD. “This localized pipeline will train generations of students and supply high-quality healthcare providers in the future. Temple ISD is grateful for all of those who have worked on this project over the past three years. With the right medical collaborators, Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Health, anything is possible. Parents and students are going to be excited about this localized option for healthcare preparedness.”
The pathway is expected to start with nearly 150 students involved. In addition to the coursework, freshman and sophomore students will also participate in extracurricular health and biomedical science activities to learn about the diverse careers in healthcare. As the program expands to upperclassmen by 2027-2028, junior and senior students will have opportunities to participate in clinical shadowing, laboratory tours and workshops and exposure to nursing and allied health professions.
“The goal is to bridge the gap between Temple High School classrooms and the country’s top medical minds through hands-on learning and elite mentorship opportunities,” said Sara Bartlett, Director of CTE for Temple schools. “We have the benefit of having Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White in our community. Introducing students to career paths within their own flourishing health district is a logical and effective way to foster local talent.”
The BCM STEM+M pathway program with Temple ISD is one of several implemented across the state. Similar programs are in Midland ISD, select campuses in Corpus Christi ISD, Stafford Municipal School District and Houston ISD at the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at James D. Ryan Middle School, Baylor College of Medicine Biotech Academy at Rusk Middle School, and the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions. One thing that helps set the Temple ISD collaboration apart is the included collaboration of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple.
“We are very grateful for our collaboration with healthcare leaders based here in Temple,” added Dr. Renota Rogers, Temple ISD Chief Academic Officer. “Providing Temple High School students with opportunities to engage with Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White allows them to see the healthcare options available to them. Hopefully, in the future, these same students will choose to pursue their healthcare careers right here at home in Temple.”