Kassandra S. has always been surrounded by construction.
Growing up in Oak Cliff, her family’s construction business wasn’t just something she heard about; it was part of daily life. Now, she’s preparing to build on that foundation, carrying forward a legacy shaped at home and strengthened through Dallas ISD.
Known as “Kass,” she learned early that hard work wasn’t optional. As the youngest and only girl, she said her parents and older brothers held her to high expectations.
“My parents and brothers always pushed me to work for everything,” she said.
Those expectations, and the example set by her brothers, led Kass to a new path. She transferred from a charter school to Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation, enrolling in its P-TECH program.
Now a senior, Kass found more than a new school. She found a clearer direction.
While her family built their business through hands-on work, Kass is preparing to support it from a different angle, learning how to manage operations, coordinate projects and help the company grow behind the scenes.
Through P-TECH, she’s gaining early exposure to those skills.
College-level coursework, resume building, mock interviews and networking opportunities introduced her to the professional side of industries like construction.
“They bring in people from different industries, and we get to sit down and talk with them,” she said. “It’s helping me get ready for the real world.”
Even after joining the program later than many of her peers, Kass will graduate from high school with an associate’s degree. She said support from Education Is Freedom, a Dallas ISD partner, helped guide her through the college application process.
“It made me feel like people really care,” she said. “They want to see you go to college or get a job after high school.”
This fall, Kass will take the next step at Louisiana State University, where she plans to study construction management, continuing a path that will eventually bring her back home to help run her family’s business.
Still, leaving won’t be easy.
A self-described family-oriented person, Kass knows she’ll miss the people who have shaped her most.
“I might get homesick,” she said. “I have nieces and nephews, and we’re really close.”
For Kass, college isn’t just about moving forward. It’s about coming back with the tools to build on what her family started. With support from both her family and Dallas ISD, she’s not just preparing for a career. She’s continuing a legacy.
