Texas sTaTe Troopers can earn up To $150 more
eacH monTH If THeY Have a masTer’s, BacHelor’s, or
assocIaTe’s degree, or can speak a second language.
Choosing Electives Additional classes include such topics Top Teachers
Beyond your core courses, the electives as how to interact with the public, Teachers in the Law, Public Safety,
you take can help you get ready for college human relations, criminal procedures, Corrections & Security cluster must
and career requirements in the Law, Public and interpersonal skills. You can get a have a background in law enforcement,
Safety, Corrections & Security cluster. good foundation that prepares you for firefighting, or public safety. In some
If you are interested in a career as a additional education or training after districts, there are agreements to bring
firefighter, for example, you can select high school. in local top police officers to teach these
electives in the Emergency and Fire High school students can actually electives.
Management Services program of study. graduate with certifications that qualify At the Dale Jackson Career Center in
High school courses might include them for employment in the cluster. Lewisville (see box below), criminal justice
Fire Science Technology, Emergency In the telecommunications course on teacher Chris Thompson stages hands-on
Communications, and Firefighter I and II 911 emergency procedures, teachers are activities such as mock trials and crime
in your junior and senior years. certified by the State and students can apply scene investigations. The first year of the
In the Law Enforcement Services instruction in the high school classroom to program covers career opportunities and
program of study, the elective sequence earn 911 certification. Once they graduate, historical perspectives on the impact of
starts with Introduction to Criminal they can go to work as 911 dispatchers. crime. The second year, which includes
Justice. It’s an overview of the different Other certifications available at the high study of the history of criminal law in Texas,
careers in the program and covers the school level include Basic EMT (Emergency allows students to earn college credits at
different kinds of law, such as civil and Medical Technician), Basic Firefighter, and partnering community colleges.
criminal law. Emergency Care Attendant.
S P o T L I G H T
FRoM CRIME SCENES to CouRtRooMS
dale Jackson Career Center Opens doors in Criminal Justice
A
t the beginning of each school year at dale Jackson technical training with rigorous academic preparation,
career center in lewisville, criminal justice teacher emphasizing the development of communication skills. “a
chris Thompson opens his class by asking students one police officer may spend up to three hours a day writing
question: “why are you here?” reports about his or her activities,” Thompson notes.
Thompson says he asks the question because high He teaches four courses based on curriculum developed
school students can come into the program for the at Texas a&m university. “These courses are at the
wrong reasons. college level,” he says. “In fact, one of our graduates was
“a lot of students think criminal justice is what they see able to opt out of a college course after only four weeks
on television,” says Thompson. “This program gives them because he had already covered the material.”
practical insight into the system. They come to class and Thompson says his greatest reward is hearing the
realize it’s more difficult than what they see on Tv.” success his students achieve after high school. one
with firsthand experience in the fBI, cIa, and drug Jackson student interested in law enforcement is working
enforcement agency (dea), Thompson knows the ins as a jailer, attending community college, and preparing
and outs of law enforcement. He came to dale Jackson to become a deputy in the sheriff’s office. another
career center to train students in the skills needed graduated from the university of Texas and received a full
to succeed in criminal justice. The program balances scholarship to Harvard law school.
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