NCLA Podcast

Amy currently serves as the Coordinator of Career & Technical Education, World Languages, and Global Studies for the Parkway School District in St. Louis, MO.   As a professional developer, Amy focuses on the systemic and sustainable integration of “how do we do school differently” in order to prepare students for a global society and an ever-changing world.  Her work encompasses cre...

A quick search on Google Scholar will show research is deep and wide when it comes to retaining teachers, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers are no different. In fact, retention of CTE teachers may have a more profound importance - high school teacher turnover impacts CTE programs due to the dependence on relational connections that motivate a student to continue taking CTE courses....

For more than two decades Harry Snyder, President and CEO (Superintendent) of Great Oaks Career Campuses, has been committed to ensuring that youth and adults are prepared with the competitive skills necessary for economic growth. Because he understands that this means business and education working together, he has become a major voice in workforce training. In 2014, the Great Oaks Board of Direc...

Jim Michlig is the College Career & Experiential Learning Coordinator for the Muskego Norway School District.  Jim is the director of the district's CONNECT Academy which is the umbrella program for all experiential learning within the Muskego Norway School District. Jim believes that building strong relationships with business partners and helping stude...

STEVE WARD’S PURPOSE - HELPING OTHERS FIND THEIR PURPOSE Engaging Educational Leaders and Students by bringing the conversation of personal Purpose into the classroom to: intrinsically motivate adolescents and young adults in their education; inspire youth to examine their skills and interests to drive academic decisions; level the playing field to increase equality among youth of different abilit...

Josh Davies is passionate about helping others make a difference in their lives, jobs, and community. Through his work as a speaker and trainer, he has engaged and encouraged professionals across North America, the Middle East, and Asia. His engaging and connecting speaking style combined with relevant content make him an in-demand speaker, giving more than 75 keynote presentations and workshops t...

This past June, Jay became the principal of AmTech Career Academy in Amarillo, Texas, a $60 million renovation of an old Sears/Hastings facility. Tune in to hear about the inception story for this center and his vision for the future of Career and Technical Education in this community.  Take a virtual tour of the campus here: https://youtu.be/c83_49bo1FI Find out more about Jay's background a...

In this episode of the NCLA podcast, Rachael Mann is joined by Dr. Kevin J Fleming to discuss purpose-driven education. Dr. Fleming is an educator, national speaker, entrepreneur, and author. He is the producer of multiple, viral animation videos including Success in the New Economy , author of the educational bestseller, (Re)Defining the Goal , and currently Vice President of Planning and Develop...

In this episode, Rachael Mann is joined by Tiffanie Rosier and Brittany Hollis to discuss initiatives at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) including STEM and leadership opportunities for students. Learn more about the successes that are happening here: https://blogs.nvcc.edu/systemic/2021/04/29/nova-students-recognized-for-clri-success/ Tiffanie Rosier is a STEM Education Coordinator for...

In this episode of the NCLA Podcast, our host, Rachael Mann is joined by panelists April J. Miller, Krysti Conlin, and Charlie de Belloy to discuss the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative High School Program. To learn more about this initiative and to access the free materials, please visit mbaresearch.org/ethics Podcast Guest Bios:  April J. Miller , Vice President of Product Development for MBA...

Marketing CTE Programs Now, more than ever, parents have choices for their children’s education. During the pandemic, some families switched schools or even educational models in pursuit of what would work best for their children and for their personal situations. Many families may not return to the traditional classroom, with plans to stick with virtual or homeschooling. Others might recognize th...

Throughout the pandemic schools and students alike have faced unprecedented challenges. Now in 2021, as Arizona starts to revive, students are looking for the education option that best fits their needs. Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC), a local public career and technical education district, has returned to their in-person, hands-on learning model, which is necessary for the variety o...

In this episode of the NCLA podcast, Tammy Bonner and Jennifer Brooks share grassroots efforts to statewide consortia and current partnerships in Arizona. Our guests address best practices and strategies that CTE leaders should consider when planning for career and technical education programs in schools and districts. Tammy Bonner is currently the Director of the Arizona CTE Curriculum Consortium...

In this episode of the NCLA podcast, the Chief Executive Officer of the Virtual Startup Academy, Gregory Keele M.A. Ed shares his vision for the future of Career and Technical Education.  Bio: My professional experience includes five years at California Virtual Academies, an online charter school in California, where I have taught Entrepreneurship.  I have a BA in Economics from Claremon...

When the world turned upside down a little over a year ago, many things had to stop and pivot with it. The in-person learning and hands-on experiences that were the norm for teaching trade and vocational skills had to be reimagined factoring in physical distancing and virtual instruction. Educators had to be creative, and students had to be open to these new models, knowing that it would be worth...

Evan Whitehead has been an educator for more than 20 years spanning three decades.  Over the course of his career, he has held the following positions: special education paraprofessional, special education high school teacher, Latino parent outreach coordinator, dean of student discipline, community outreach coordinator, director of special services, director of bilingual education, and Engli...

Eddie Small is a passionate leader, instructional coach, and innovative educator. His work in education and educational technology has focused on connecting teachers and students in engaging solutions and instructional design. As a Principal Consultant with Instructure, Eddie works with educators, administrators, and district leadership in designing success for Canvas. Eddie believes in digital le...

Joe Belsterling is the Founder and CEO of MajorClarity, an academic planning and career exploration platform serving thousands of schools nationwide. He previously has consulted schools and organizations on building entrepreneurship programs for students, worked on political campaigns, and done various advisory work including helping the U.S Department of Education build better resources and guide...

Our nation’s multilingual talent has long been one of our best-kept secrets, but it’s one we can no longer afford to keep. With our 21st century penchant for stretching supply lines, educational opportunities, production processes, collaborative research endeavors, and leisure travel around the globe, the need for proficient multilingual skills in the workforce has never been greater. Addressing t...

We have to show students that there is a real connection between what they learn in school and the world beyond the classroom. How can educators help students connect with real-world problems, and navigate them in a low-risk environment? Engage students in many ways . One size does not fit all, and students need to hear and engage with content in many different ways. CTE programs are integral to d...

In this episode of the NCLA podcast, our host, Rachael Mann, is joined by guests Lindsey Balderaz and John Turcic to discuss their proof-of-concept initiative with the  Transformative Leadership Academy (TLA) in West Texas.  This project is part of an education/business partnership development pilot effort to test the effectiveness of the program’s methodologies, concepts, and curriculum...

Bio: Jon Quatman was Assistant Superintendent and Vice President for Great Oaks, the career-technical school district serving 30,000 youth and adults at four campuses in southwestern Ohio.  After earning his BA at Thomas More College and his Masters from Xavier University, Jon held administrative positions in a large Cincinnati suburb, Forest Hills. When Jon came to Great Oaks in 1996 as Dire...

In this episode of the NCLA Podcast, Dr. Aaron L. Smith reminds listeners to remember that academia must bridge careers (ABCs) through CTE and STEM and discusses building a robust workforce in these areas through collaboration. Aaron is an author and international speaker, and an active educator leading one of the most award-winning STEM magnet schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Specializing...

Eric Ripley has 18 years of professional experience in Career and Technical Education (CTE) including his current roles as the Director of CTE for the Grand Forks Public Schools (North Dakota) and Director of the Grand Forks Area Career & Technology Center. A graduate of the University of North Dakota, Eric’s educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Business Education and a Maste...

Podcast Subject: K-12 and Post-Secondary Collaboration Fran Bromley-Norwood is the Computer Science and Cybersecurity Lead for the Clark County School District in Nevada, where she trains teachers and prepares Career and Technical Education students to be career-ready for industry positions. Fran earned her Bachelor's Degree at Towson State University in Maryland and her Master's Degree at Dowling...