Iteration Under Pressure: Why This Texas High School's Fail Forward Method Works

This Texas high school built a quiet pipeline to SpaceX and NASA, and now it's teaching freshmen to pitch for $20,000 in real startup money. David Pedregon, community champion for the Incubator EDU program at Fredericksburg ISD, joins Justin McKenzie on The Building Texas Show to explain how a Hill Country CTE track produces aerospace careers and student founders at the same time. About 29 years ago, Fredericksburg High started a project-based engineering track that became its Rocket Program. Students now run design reviews with a NASA engineer. When one part failed to spec, they called a program alumnus: SpaceX employee number 10 and one of its first launch engineers. His brother, still a welder at SpaceX, helped the students get the part welded in Waco. They launched at White Sands Missile Range. Alumni have gone on to SpaceX, NASA, and Blue Origin. That same "fail forward" habit built the Incubator EDU program. Year one: 22 students, 6 teams, $20,000 on the line at pitch night in front of hundreds of people. Year two: 42 to 45 students. Business pitching is now a UIL-recognized event in Texas, with a state competition at Texas A&M. David's argument: entrepreneur is not a job title, it's a mindset. Whether a graduate starts a company, chooses trade school, joins a nonprofit, or works inside someone else's business, the transferable skill is iteration under pressure, which matters more in an AI-shaped labor market. Justin and David also cover the statewide renaissance in career and technical education, the welder shortage, why mentors reverse student imposter syndrome, and how other Texas districts can start their own Incubator program. CHAPTERS 00:00 Fredericksburg High's SpaceX and NASA pipeline 00:19 Welcome to The Building Texas Show 00:48 How David Pedregon became the Incubator EDU community champion 03:45 The Rocket Program: SpaceX, NASA, and White Sands Missile Range 07:34 Pitch competition night: $20,000 and a student who found his voice 11:19 Program growth: 22 to 45 students and UIL business pitching 15:14 Why entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a job title 18:11 The CTE renaissance and a call for mentors 22:04 Innovating public education in Fredericksburg, Texas Guest: David Pedregon, Community Champion, Incubator EDU, Fredericksburg ISD Location: Fredericksburg, Texas, about 90 minutes from Austin and San Antonio The Building Texas Show covers the founders, mayors, and innovators driving Texas growth: economic development, housing, education, and the business of a growing state. Hosted by Justin McKenzie. #SpaceX #FredericksburgTX #HighSchoolEntrepreneurship #CTE #BuildingTexas #TexasEducation