On Friday, October 4, Humble ISD broke ground on a new, unique facility for its Mosaic program, designed to support young adults with disabilities.
The new building will serve students ages 18-22 who received special education services and qualify for educational services after high school to transition to adult life. Currently housed in portable buildings, Mosaic will soon have a permanent home, thanks to funding approved by voters in Bond 2022.
Humble ISD Acting Superintendent Dr. Roger Brown welcomed everyone to the ceremony and shared information about the new building.
“This beautiful, two-story facility will enhance the Mosaic program, helping students transition from school into adulthood,” Dr. Brown said. “We’re excited for its opening in 2025 and confident it will make a great difference for our students.”
During the event, Mosaic students, a teacher, and parents shared their personal experiences with the program.
Ella Cockrell, a student of the Mosaic program, shared her dreams of someday working at Bath and Body Works and traveling to Japan and how the skills she has learned in the program will help her achieve goals.
“When I think of Mosaic, I think of my class family—making new friends, building relationships and socializing,” Ella said. “I love learning life skills from my teachers. They teach me new things, help me practice what I need to learn, and let me try things on my own so I can grow into an adult.”
Another student, Niko Katindig, shared how Mosaic has helped him gain work and volunteer experience.
“I have learned many social and independent living skills,” Niko said. “Mosaic taught me job skills like being on time, working hard, working independently and advocating for myself. These lessons will help me live independently, make friends and get a job at ShowBiz.”
Parents also spoke about the impact of the program. Kyle and Tina Carkhuff, whose son Evan is in the Mosaic program, explained how it helped him transition from therapy to a full-day program at Mosaic.
“As a father, it means everything to find a place where Evan feels safe, where Evan can grow and where people love him,” Kyle Carkhuff said. “To have a community, a school district, teachers and staff supporting a place like Mosaic where students can come and turn into adults, is wonderful and will have a great impact on many lives.”
Emily Gibson, a Mosaic teacher, spoke about the different goals that her Mosaic students have and how the program teaches students skills to live as independently as possible to help them reach those goals.
“Some may choose to live at home with their families,” Gibson said. “Some may have goals to live in an apartment or a home of their own. Some may want to get a part-time job, while others may go to college. These are all achievable goals. All they need is a plan, a support system and the ability to do as many tasks as they can on their own, and that is what we do here at Mosaic.”
The new 56,600-square-foot building, set to open in November 2025, will feature classrooms, a student recreation room, and three mock apartments where students can learn daily living skills like laundry, meal preparation, and bed-making.
The building will also include a production lab where students can create items for sale at the spirit store on campus and in the Administration Building. Outdoor learning spaces, including a garden, will further enrich the educational environment.
