T
he new real estate course at Memorial High School is designed to prepare students for a career in the field of real estate. The course is led by experienced teacher Derrick Freeman, who is also a real estate broker. Currently, the class has 11 senior students who are eager to learn about the industry.

    The Real Estate program is part of the Business, Marketing, and Finance Career Cluster offered by the Texas Education Agency. Students who successfully complete the course will not only gain financial stability but also learn how to meet Port Arthur's real estate needs.

    Dr. Lovette Martin-Davis, Director of Career and Technical Education at Memorial High School, believes that this program is an excellent opportunity for underrepresented minorities to pursue a career in real estate. She hopes that the program will benefit both the students and the community.

    In the classroom, students are learning about Commission Disbursement Authorization and commission splits. They are also exploring how property values are affected by school district ratings and test scores.

    Two students, Autumn Jones and Haley Walker, are particularly enthusiastic about a career in real estate. Jones plans to get her real estate license after serving in the U.S. Navy and flip houses in the future, while Walker sees real estate as a way to gain more life experience and career opportunities.

    The Port Arthur Independent School District (PAISD) is proud of its successful alumni who are minority real estate agents in Port Arthur, including Charlotte Moses, RaNysha Roberts, Nasondra Fontenette, and Derrick Freeman himself. The district is confident that its new Career and Technical Education (CTE) program will increase the number of minority real estate agents and brokers in Port Arthur and beyond.