The Rodel-Cast

This is the last podcast in this series exploring the transition from high school to post-secondary education and careers. This episode focuses on Canada, with a focus on British Columbia and New Brunswick. Listen to the following policymakers, educators and students speak about how they redefined what it meant to be an “educated citizen”, integrated work-based learning experiences into general education, shifted towards competency based learning versus rote memorization, built student agency into the high school experience, and partnered regionally with higher education and employers to prepare the next generation of learners: – Angie Calleberg, Executive Director for Student Learning, British Columbia Ministry of Education – Jim Lamond, District Principal Pathways & Choice, School District No. 62 (Sooke) – Bonnie Alexander, SD61 District Career Coordinator, Pathways & Partnerships Vice President, Career Education Society of British Columbia – Nicole Wallace, K-8 Career Education Lead, School District No. 62 (Sooke) – Tanya Phillips, Vice Principal, Ecole Royal Bay Secondary, Overseer, Career Education: Pathways and Choice – Scott Beddal, Executive Director, Education Programs and Policy, British Columbia Ministry of Education and Child Care – Nicola Priestley, Director, South Island Partnership – Beth Henderson, Learning Specialist, Essential Skills and Universal Design for Learning Unit, New Brunswick Ministry of Education – Joel Everett, District Lead, Essential Skills Achievement Pathway (ESAP) – Students TJ and Jack from TASK at Ecole Royal Bay – Students Taylor and Hillary at Camosun College – Student Andrea from Pathways for Life Learning and Work at Camosun College – Students Grant and Candice from Essential Skills Achievement Pathways (ESAP) in New Brunswick

TASK and Nicole Wallace’s photos were taken from Sooke School District 62’s, “2022 Career Education Department Overview,” (p.26).

Essential Skills Achievement Pathways (ESAP) photos were taken from September 2023 ESAP Newsletter, “From Classroom to Community: ESAP High Schools’ Student Project Compilation in focus.”

Welcome to our fifth podcast episode of “Career Pathways in a Rapidly Changing World” series. Our guest speakers are: Dr. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education; Luke Rhine, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education; Dr. Mark Holodick, Delaware Secretary of Education; Michael Gonzalez, Executive Director, Rural Schools Innovation Zone; Jeanne Russell, Executive Director, CAST Schools; and CAST students. In this episode we will discuss the federal government’s role in helping shape the career pathways effort across the 50 states, as well as learn how two very different states, Delaware and Texas, are integrating meaningful work-based learning experiences into the secondary school experience by building new bridges with employer and higher education partners. Educators and students will discuss their strategies, challenges, and successes in creating more inclusive and effective career pathways.

Welcome to our fourth podcast episode of “Career Pathways in a Rapidly Changing World” series. Our guest speakers are: Graeme Hendry, Senior Partnership and Delivery Manager, Skills Development Scotland; Kevin Kelman, Director of Learning and Innovation, National Health Service, Scotland Academy; Rebecca Westwater and Abbie Johnson, Foundation Apprenticeship Alumni. The episode explores the role of Skills Development Scotland in providing careers information and guidance, funding apprenticeships, and supporting the delivery of Foundation Apprenticeships. It highlights the benefits of foundation apprenticeships for students, such as gaining work-based skills, additional qualifications, and practical experience, and the impact it has on young people’s transition from secondary school to further education or the workforce. We talk about the challenges in integrating work-based learning into the academic curriculum, parents’ concerns about university prospects, and the importance of transferable skills. The vision for Scotland’s career pathways emphasizes the importance of parity between academic and vocational pathways and expanding access to meaningful work-based learning opportunities for all students. (Note that this set of interviews took place in June 2023, so the data referenced in it are reflective of that timeframe.)

Welcome to our third podcast episode of “Career Pathways in a Rapidly Changing World” series. Our guest speakers are: Rota Carrington, leader in the Ministry of Education; Glen Denham, headmaster, Wellington College; and a group of young women, at Westlake Girls’ High School led by their instructor, Susana Tomaz. We will discuss New Zealand’s appreciation for the country’s indigenous cultures and their commitment to equity as they help students find their career pathways. “In New Zealand, we are actively trying to get businesses and workplaces into schools. I’m really proud of that. I can see it. I can feel it. And it’s a tangible thing that the ministry is really working on. I think the thing that keeps me up at night is equity.” – Glen Denham, headmaster, Wellington College

Welcome to our second episode of our “Career Pathways in a Rapidly Changing World” series. Our guest speakers are: Anthony Mackay, Deputy Chancellor at Swinburne University; expert consultant to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); and Co-Chair, National Center for Education and the Economy (NCEE); Natalie Garcia de Heer, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Senior Secondary Pathways Reform within Victoria’s Department of Education; and some students and educators engaged in their pathways programs.

We will discuss the systemic shifts currently going on within Australia’s career pathways and what those changes look like in policy and practice. “It’s about doing things differently. And that, to me, is more radical innovation. That equals, for me, transformation. ” ~ Anthony Mackay, Co-Chair, National Center for Education and the Economy (NCEE)

Welcome to our first podcast episode of Career Pathways in a Rapidly Changing World series. Our guest is Andreas Schleicher, the director of Education and Skills at Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). We will discuss how the OECD partners with countries from around the world to support their young people in the transition from school to work. Andreas shares how the approaches to career readiness are shifting around the globe.

“While young people today tend to have more education, more degrees; they tend to have fewer skills, less real-world experience. As a result, young people, on average across OECD countries, are unemployed about 2.5 times more than adults over 24 and in some countries this ratio is much higher. Fortunately, thanks to the OECD’s Career Readiness team, there is a growing road map to help young adults get into employment.” ~ Paul Herdman, Rodel CEO and President

Read more about this project here:

What can the rest of the world teach us about career pathways?

Career Pathways Down Under: Some Early Reflections

Alexis I. duPont Middle School (AIMS) teachers and students join us for a conversation on their teacher-led approach to designing and implementing the Career and Technical Education (CTE) exploration program in their existing related arts classes. Three eighth grader students share about their guided exploration activities, personalized paths, and career-connected capstone projects. The educators share their passion for the program, discussing the importance of student advocacy and providing advice for other schools interested in similar initiatives. Hear the key takeaways from the pilot program from our AIMS team guests: Kourtney Bastianelli, Music and Performing Arts Teacher, Diversity Champion; Coach K. Smith, Health Education, Related Arts Dept. Lead, AIMS Lead Mentor; Bri Brown, 6th Grade School Counselor; Solange, 8th Grade Student; Zuri, 8th Grade Student; and Amneris, 8th Grade Student.

Kuumba Academy Charter School is combining the arts school experience with career exploration though their pilot Career and Technical Education Exploration (CTE)program for all 5th-8th graders. Through a dynamic tapestry of learning that blends arts, CTE, and out-of-school experiences, Kuumba’s pilot program cultivates students’ artistic voices and equips them to chart fulfilling career paths. Hear the key takeaways from the pilot program from our Kuumba team guests: Head of School, Sally Maldonado; Theater Teaching Artist and Passages/CAST instructor, Salimata Linguer; ABA Therapist, and CAST instructor Teri Riggs-Lyle; 8th Grade United Way Guide, Kecia Batts; 8th Grade Student, Karen Downing; and 7th Grade Student, Iyon Barber.

Learn about the first Latinos Unidos Student Summit: A gathering to connect and uplift members of Latinos Unidos Student Unions & Associations, Advisors, School administrators and allies that support students as they fight for equity and justice at their learning places. Our guests include Wanda Barrett, Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships at United Way of Delaware; Naelyn Gonzalez-Hughson, senior at Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School and Founder of the Latinos Unidos Student Summit; and Emily Rodriguez, a senior at Conrad Schools of Science and planning committee member for the Latinos Unidos Student Summit. “Building that community and having a network of people that you can turn to when you need help. Help in every type of way: academic help… social emotional help, help with dealing with sexual orientation, or generational trauma… so it’s really a holistic approach to the student… and because of that it increases academic success.” ~ Emily Rodriguez

Delaware’s Colonial School District is tackling equity and diversity through Teacher Affinity Groups and teacher residencies that are attracting and retaining teachers of color. Hear from Dr. Jennifer Alexander, Director of Talent Development at Colonial School District, TeRay Ross, Principal at New Castle Elementary School, and Khayree Bey, Health and Wellness teacher at McCullough Middle School about how Colonial will expand this work to continue to support teachers of color.

Since 2016 there has been an 84% increase in multilingual learner students in Sussex County. LASO president and Cape Henlopen High School student Felipe says, “Every single year we have a lot of MLL students coming in who need services… we put out a survey that showed that many students feel they are not supported.” Learn how this student-led group is helping and advocating for multilingual learners and their families in their school and the district.

Rodel CEO Paul Herdman talks to our guests, Alyssa and La’Niya, two high school students at McKean, and Rachel Anderson, the Executive Director of Workforce Development at Delaware Technical Community college about the Patient Care Assistant Pathway that is giving students real-life expertise in certified nursing assisting, phlebotomy, and patient care assisting that will set them up for fruitful careers, further education, or both. To learn more about how Rodel and partners are supporting a new era of career pathways in Delaware see our Start Earlier, Go Faster, Equitable Outcomes: Pathways 2.0 (2022).

Welcome to the first episode of The Rodel-Cast! Our first guest is Zakiyyah Ali, executive director of the Tech Council of Delaware. In this episode, Rodel CEO Paul Herdman talks to Ali about how the council is building an inclusive IT pipeline in the First State by connecting tech employers to community organizations, educational institutions, and youth to develop our future workforce. All resource links can be found in the description of our YouTube episode.