Engineering His Future: Wylie East Graduate Credits CTE for Career Head Start

When Zane Brown graduated from Wylie East High School in 2022, he carried with him more than a diploma — he had a strong foundation built through Wylie ISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program and, specifically, the engineering pathway.

Today, Brown is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University and recently completed a 12-week internship with the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). He says his high school engineering experience played a significant role in preparing him for both college and the professional world.

A Strong Start in High School Engineering
Brown credits much of his early success to his engineering teachers at Wylie East High School, Lauren Plunk and Vernon Gibson.

Plunk, whom Brown calls his most influential CTE mentor, not only taught his high school engineering courses but also the college-level Engineering Design & Problem Solving course he took as a junior while at East.

“She taught me to think more critically and that there wasn’t just one right answer when I was working on the assigned engineering projects,” Brown said.

Gibson also had a significant impact, introducing Brown to 3D modeling software that he still uses in his Texas A&M coursework today.

“Zane quickly mastered the 3D modeling software, using it not just to complete assignments but to create innovative designs that went above and beyond expectations,” Gibson said. “He approached every project with determination and curiosity, never settling for the easiest solution. His drive to learn set him apart from day one.”

Plunk recalls Brown’s work ethic standing out early on.

“It wasn’t the pressure of an impending deadline that drove him, but rather his innate curiosity and determination to tackle the task at hand,” she said.

From Student to Intern — and Former Teacher to Supervisor
After leaving the classroom to become NTMWD’s Watershed Manager, Plunk was reunited with Brown, this time as his internship supervisor.

“This summer, having him on my team as a student assistant was no different,” Plunk said. “Zane proactively sought out additional assignments, eager to take on more work."

During his NTMWD internship, he earned three certifications: EPA Watershed Certification, Watershed Academy Training Certification, and Water Quality Community Scientist Certification. His work included outreach to more than 100 citizens, presentations at schools, and hands-on watershed education.

“I feel better educated to answer public water quality and monitoring questions,” Brown said. “I learned best practices to put into use in the future family ag business, and I am inspired to impact my [own] watershed in a positive way. I developed the ability to present technical topics to laypeople, benefiting NTMWD by reaching citizens in a hands-on manner and providing education on behaviors to protect watershed health.”

Looking Ahead
Brown is on track to graduate from Texas A&M in Spring 2026. He hopes to pursue a career in materials selection or prosthetic design, fields where his CTE background, college training, and internship experience will continue to serve him well.

“My time at NTMWD has shown me that I need to grow in my presentation skills, data analysis capabilities, and professional document drafting,” Brown said. “Though working in water can be a thankless job, it is a necessary and stable one.”

Brown’s journey is just one example of how Wylie ISD’s CTE programs give students more than a head start – they give them a competitive edge. From engineering to health sciences, culinary arts to business, Wylie ISD students graduate with skills, certifications, and experiences that open doors to college, careers, and lifelong success. CTE courses in Wylie ISD empower students to discover their passions and turn them into purpose. For Brown, that meant transforming classroom projects into a career path that will impact communities for years to come.