Growing up in the Alief Independent School District community helped shape the personal and professional journey of Lori Ghazal, a native Houstonian whose life has been deeply connected to the district she now serves. Ghazal grew up in the Alief area and attended several district campuses, beginning at Landis, Liestman, and Best Elementary Schools before continuing to Killough Middle School and later Alief Hastings High School, where she graduated in 2002. Her family’s experiences living between Houston and Lebanon gave her a global perspective during her formative years and helped shape her appreciation for diversity and community connection.
During her time at Hastings High School, some of Ghazal’s most meaningful memories came from participating in the Big Bear Band, a large program that included more than 200 students. She played the flute and was also part of the color guard, helping bring UIL marching shows to life through performance and teamwork. The demanding rehearsal schedules and the excitement of performing in front of large crowds became highlights of her high school experience. Her passion for music continued into college when she joined the University of Houston band, further strengthening her appreciation for collaborative performance and student creativity.
Ghazal’s career path into education and student support was heavily influenced by her involvement in the PALS program at Hastings High School under the mentorship of Ms. Law. Through this program, she developed a strong interest in counseling and building meaningful relationships with students from diverse backgrounds. The connections she built during those two years have lasted more than 23 years, demonstrating the long-term impact of mentorship and student-centered programs. That experience helped shape her career goals and ultimately guided her toward working in educational support and career development.
Today, Ghazal serves as a Career and Technical Education Program Manager within Alief ISD. In her role, she collaborates with teachers, counselors, administrators, and students to promote CTE opportunities throughout the district. She focuses on communicating the wide range of certification pathways, technical training programs, and career readiness opportunities available to students. One of the most rewarding parts of her job is seeing students successfully transition from high school programs into careers or postsecondary education pathways. She takes pride in knowing that CTE programs help prepare students not only for employment but also for long-term community impact through a skilled workforce.
Her personal experiences growing up in Alief have had a lasting influence on how she approaches her work. Ghazal credits the district’s diverse community with teaching her how to appreciate different perspectives and build meaningful relationships across cultural and social backgrounds. Those skills have been invaluable throughout her career when working with students, families, and district staff. She believes Alief ISD has consistently served as a source of support and opportunity throughout both her academic and personal challenges.
Beyond her professional work, Ghazal remains deeply involved in supporting the Alief community. She enjoys attending her son’s football games and hopes to see him follow in his father’s footsteps by playing at Hastings High School. She regularly attends Alief football games, theater performances, halftime shows, and CTE competitions, emphasizing that simply being present for students can make a lasting difference in their confidence and motivation. She often hears from students years later who remember her encouragement, reinforcing her belief that small acts of support can have a long-term impact.
As a lifelong resident of Alief, Ghazal stays connected to the community by helping bring local stakeholders to CTE centers to showcase student achievements. She believes that highlighting student work and community partnerships strengthens the overall mission of student success. By sharing student accomplishments with families and community members, she hopes to build stronger investment in educational opportunities across the district.
When offering advice to students considering careers in education or technical fields, Ghazal encourages ambition and continuous learning. She emphasizes that education does not stop after graduation and encourages students to pursue certifications, additional training, and new skills throughout their lives. In a rapidly changing workforce, she believes adaptability and lifelong learning are essential for long-term success.
For Ghazal, success is not defined by recognition or financial achievement but by personal fulfillment and continuous growth. She is especially proud of being a first-generation college graduate. She never initially imagined earning a master’s degree, but with support from her community and determination to succeed, she achieved that goal and is now considering pursuing a doctoral degree. She credits Alief ISD with providing the encouragement and resources that empowered her to reach higher levels of education than she once thought possible.
Looking back, Ghazal believes her education in Alief ISD played a major role in shaping both her character and career path. She recalls educators who pushed her to grow academically and personally while also creating environments where mistakes were viewed as learning opportunities rather than failures. She was especially influenced by teachers who demonstrated their commitment to students through their actions outside of the classroom, reinforcing the importance of mentorship and emotional support in education.
Her message to current students, staff, and alumni is to remain open to opportunities and maintain a positive outlook on the future. She encourages students not to dismiss opportunities that may lead to long-term success and reminds them that while individuals may not have control over their beginnings, they always have the power to shape their future through persistence, humility, and determination. Through her work and community involvement, Ghazal continues to give back to the district that played such an important role in shaping who she is today.