Mike Feinberg Tackles Education-to-Employment Pipeline Through Innovative Programs

In Houston’s education landscape, educational entrepreneur Mike Feinberg is transforming how schools prepare students for sustainable careers through several groundbreaking initiatives launched under the Texas School Venture Fund.

Established in 2018, the fund represents Feinberg’s response to what he perceived as an overemphasis on college preparation at the expense of other viable career pathways. After decades in education that began with Teach for America in 1991, Feinberg recognized that many students were poorly served by a singular focus on college readiness.

“We collectively shamed vo-tech out of high schools,” notes the workforce development advocate. “In hindsight, all of my college counselors could have—should have—been career counselors or life counselors, where college is an important pathway but not the only pathway.”

This philosophy manifested in WorkTexas, a skills training program launched in 2020 that provides free instruction in trades ranging from electrical work and welding to commercial truck driving and culinary arts. The program has since expanded to multiple locations, serving both high school students and adults seeking career transitions.

What distinguishes WorkTexas is its employer-driven curriculum developed in partnership with over 100 local businesses. The program’s emphasis on both technical proficiency and workplace soft skills addresses employers’ consistent feedback that reliability and teamwork often outweigh technical abilities in importance.

Beyond WorkTexas, Feinberg has established Neighborhood Schools, providing tuition-free pre-K through eighth-grade education, and Project Remix Ventures, offering entrepreneurial opportunities for justice-involved youth.

Through these interconnected initiatives, Feinberg has created what he describes as a “sandbox” where educational institutions and community organizations collaborate toward common goals. This comprehensive approach demonstrates how educational innovation can simultaneously address workforce needs while creating sustainable career pathways for underserved communities.