By Leo Green
“The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.”
— The Buffalo, 1976
High school is a confusing, complex time, and much like a rollercoaster, full of twists and turns. It is a memorable experience that stays with us for a lifetime. For some, the time is packed with teenage romance, rigorous studying, or a happy medium of the two. For others, the extracurriculars stand out in their memories. Whether it is setting students up for economic success through top notch vocational programs or simply encouraging a healthier lifestyle, the activities Milby High School has provided have a long history of impacting the students and the community.
Today, Milby principal Ruth Peña makes it clear to her students that failure is not an option — she refuses to “sit back and just watch [them] fail.” She notes that in addition to college prep classes, the school’s programs offer students certifications in welding, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), cosmetology, engineering, Excel, culinary, and health science. Milby assistant principal Dr. Shelbi Blackmon says, “We make sure that every student has a CTE [Career and Technical Education] pathway so that they’re getting a certification if they choose not to go to college … because college isn’t for everyone.” Milby also provides licenses to become a nail tech or medical assistant and is working to add EKG (electrocardiogram) certification. But Milby High School unique when it comes to its vocational programs, not just for the variety but also the quality.
Oil and Milby
When one thinks of Houston, there are two main things that come to mind: oil and trade. Oil is the blood that pumps through the city’s veins, refined and carried by tankers along the Houston Ship Channel. These economic engines feed the hungry flames of Houston’s job market, providing employment for countless Milby alumni over the years.
For Milby students, the ship channel and the oil industry were an integral part of their childhood. Kelly Guzman, an Austin High School graduate and mother of a current Milby Cadette, fondly recalled the times her stepfather came home from work at the ship channel with little goodies for her. “A few times the crates would drop and open,” she said, smiling, “… [so] they couldn’t claim the crates anymore … and [the workers would] bring home the treasures.” She paused a moment before adding, “Those were our special gifts.”
Houston Independent School District (HISD) started its magnet school program in 1975 and has continued to expand those offerings. By the 1980s, Milby’s Oil and Petrochemical program stood as a beacon of vocational success, educating students in a lucrative field. Alumna Anna Marie Guzman Protz recalled the big oil companies that helped sponsor the Petrochemical program and offered student internships. In 2007, Shell Oil co-donated 100 laptops to Milby, and Halliburton shared its Real Time reservoir management. This was not the first time Milby had such benefactors. In 1926, the Texas Chemical Company gifted Milby High School top-of-the-line laboratory equipment valued at $2,750 (the equivalent of nearly $49,000 today). From the beginning, the quality of its vocational training has long set Milby apart, but more so in recent years with trade skills being undervalued and undertaught.
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The Culinary Program at Milby High School allows students to grow their skills in the culinary world. Restaurants like Pappas Bar-B-Q have partnered with this program to teach them more about the industry .
One of Milby High School’s biggest programs is their welding program, where students get hands-on welding experience.
For more information on the Magnet Programs Milby has to offer, visit: https://www.houstonisd.org/domain/25048
For more information on Milby’s Peace Club, visit: https://www.urbanharvest.org/milby-high-school-community-revitalizes-a-struggling-garden/
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