Houses on Wheels
Temple High students learn construction by building tiny homes
By Amy Rognlie | Photos courtesy of Temple ISD
“Our students are not just building homes — they’re building hope,” said Stephen Bishop, Construction Technology Education Center teacher at Temple High School. “Our students are learning real-world skills while seeing the impact of their work firsthand. Every nail they drive and every wall they raise is tied to a real human story.”
THS’s House on Wheels Project began with a single moment of inspiration back in 2021. The Temple Area Builders Association (TABA) invited the THS students to tour its annual Parade of Homes. They gladly accepted, and one afternoon in May, 15 students explored several beautifully crafted homes. During the tour, one student hesitated at the entrance of a Kiella Executive home, quietly saying, “I’m not supposed to be in a house that nice.” With a little encouragement, he stepped inside — and was visibly amazed.
“That powerful moment sparked a conversation among our students and me about housing, affordability and opportunity,” Bishop said. “By the end of the school year, our students were designing tiny homes as their final exam projects, presenting to our CTE director and me.”
That summer, he reached out to the Temple Education Foundation with a bold idea: What if the Construction Technology students actually built one of those homes? To his surprise — and deep gratitude — they were awarded a grant. Over the next six months, they rallied support from across the community. Local businesses and partners enthusiastically stepped in, generating a wave of energy and purpose in the classroom. None of them knew exactly where the journey would lead, but they were all committed.
For students, this program is a chance to learn trade skills in a hands-on, purpose-driven way. They leave, not only with experience, but also with the pride of knowing their work matters. For the community, this project addresses a pressing housing need with compassion and collaboration. What makes this unique is that it is youth-led construction for a social cause — it is education, service and workforce development rolled into one.
Tomiko Thompson, a CTE student who is headed for a career in architecture, helped by drafting the blueprints for the project, as well as designing the cabinets and spice rack for the house’s diminutive kitchen.
“Working on a project like this helps me understand architectural design from the inside out,” she said. “The hands-on experience gives me a head start on my career.”
Students in THS’s four-year CTE program learn the principles of construction, including construction math, how to read blueprints and problem solving.
THS senior Jesse Tipton has a goal to study contract law and land a position with a major construction company. He helped frame the windows, install siding and many other smaller tasks on the house.
“Building something that will help the homeless is awesome. We gave the house to a veteran, which was really motivating for me,” Tipton said. “Plus, building a tiny house gave me great practical experience and helped me learn how to problem-solve. My math skills improved as I used them to work on every aspect of this project.”
Junior Adam Rodriguez agreed with Tipton. Working toward a future in accounting and construction, he advises that students complete all four years in the CTE program.
“Your experience develops after your freshman year,” he said. “And building a tiny house gives you a taste of all the different trades, from electrical to plumbing to roofing and everything in between.”
Bishop believes the program provides students with a safe place to fail — and succeed. One year after beginning the H.O.W. Project, the students had nearly completed their first tiny house — built with heart, vision, and strong community engagement. The plan was to sell the first home and use the proceeds to build another. That’s when Jeff Stegall from Feed My Sheep walked in. He not only saw the value in what our students had created, he also had a need and a place for it: the Elizabeth Farm, a safe and supportive refuge for Bell County’s un-housed neighbors.
Today, the H.O.W. Project is a collaborative effort between Temple High School’s Construction Trades program and a host of community sponsors, including TABA, Turley Engineering, Lengefeld Lumber, Moore Air, Saverse Plumbing, MEP Electrical, Kiella Homes and Feed My Sheep.
“Temple businesses love our students well, and we are very grateful,” Bishop said.
Together, Temple High students are designing and constructing durable, dignified tiny homes that serve individuals in need across Central Texas, with the next house slated to be finished in the fall of 2025.
Bishop would love to see this model replicated across school districts where education and outreach intersect. His vision is to create a legacy that will impact students and the un-housed community for years to come — creating solid humans who look at the big picture of serving others with their gifts, skills, and abilities. He also hopes to create more opportunities for students to build homes that become long-term assets for local nonprofit housing providers.
“This hands-on work gives students meaningful, real-world experience in residential construction while instilling a sense of purpose and social responsibility. The result is more than just shelter,” Bishop said. “It’s the creation of homes, hope, and lasting impact — for the community and for the students themselves — keeping the theme Temple strong.”
