NCLA Podcast

Del Johnson is the Vice President of Business Development at Orgametrics. Del’s education and corporate experience, most notably running the college and career center for Minneapolis Public Schools, gives him unique insight into understanding the challenges of organizations wishing to develop truly effective and aligned teams and leaders. https://orgametrics.net/ 

Dave Keaton began his current CTE Regional Director/Superintendent position at Region Two School of Applied Technology located in Houlton, Maine, in July 2012. Previously, Dave was CTE Director of Somerset Career & Technical Center in Skowhegan, Maine for 6 years, was a Pre K -12 Principal at Ashland Schools, Director of Learning at Loring Job Corps, CTE Director at St. John Valley Technology...

In this episode of the NCLA podcast, Chris Bailey shares the importance of CTE to economic development and how teachers need to think of themselves as industry trainers and recruiters. Tune in to hear why every student should be required to take a Career and Technical Education class and how his daughter's experience in CTE saved him potentially $200k in a potentially wrong career decision. ...

Pat Edmunds is the Director of Arkansas Tech Career Center in Russellville, Arkansas. Spending more than 25 years in CTE, she has accepted the role as an educational administrator, leader, and mentor excitedly. She took a 1972 vo-tech model and modernized it by facilitating a merger with a two-year institution, updating programming, incorporating industry credentials, and growing enrollment by 200...

In this episode, Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon, Superintendent-Director of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District, shares the details of his district's efforts to navigate a global pandemic while ensuring that the needs of students, staff, and the community are met. This podcast features best practices and innovative approaches that CTE leaders across the country can implement for...

Larisa K. Schelkin is CEO & Founder, Global STEM Education Center, Inc. 501(c) (3) nonprofit and President, Global STEM Education Consulting, LLC. Larisa is the author of the Global STEM Classroom® - globally connected teaching and learning model. She develops and runs collaborative global STEM programs with schools in Massachusetts and around the world. Larisa is the recipient of MAVA Friend...

“Adults need to commit to changing the narrative and stop treating critical thinking as a luxury good. Closing this gap for all students is our only hope for giving all students access to 21st-century opportunities.” Colin Seale Colin Seale is an award-winning educator, advocate, entrepreneur, critical thinking expert, author of T hinking Like a Lawyer , Forbes contributor, and the founder of Thin...

When you think of essential workers in career and technical education, what comes to mind? If your first thought was coaches, you are ahead of the game. Our teachers need coaches now more than ever. In this episode, Will Morris, the founder of social enterprise EdConnective, shares how coaching can help teachers embrace distance learning and help students thrive during this challenging time. There...

In this episode, Rachael Mann is joined by guests, Tiffanie Rosier and Brittany Hollis to discuss Northern Virginia Community College's STEM outreach program and the successful move to a virtual platform. Virtual STEM Careers Event Recap, written by Tiffanie and Brittany Many programs at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) have effectively adjusted their events from in-person to virtual and...

Blog post written by Kevin McCaskill, Executive Director at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Malcolm X once quoted, “education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”  That preparation has been disrupted by the current COVID-19 pandemic.  School districts across the country have turned to remote learning to salvage formal educa...

In this episode, Snehal Bhakta and Rachael Mann discuss looking forward while building the foundation and what’s in store for the future of education and CTE. Blog post by Snehal: Normally, as the school year wraps up, I try to reflect on the work of our CTE Department and myself to support our schools, principals, teachers, and most importantly our students.  For whatever reason, this year f...

By Shelly Thome We are living in unsettling and unpredictable times.  COVID-19 has taken a toll on our country’s economy, medical systems, and schools.  It has also rocked the foundation of our feelings of safety, social connection, and hope. During this COVID-19 world, we now find ourselves in, it is of increasing importance to find and then maintain balance in our lives.  This nee...

In this podcast, Ken Shelton and Rachael Mann discuss remote learning in career and technical education and the equity and access issues that are magnified in the face of a global pandemic.  Excerpt from Ken's Blog: "Distance Learning, Remote Learning, eLearning, no matter what you call it or how you package it, is not working. Here's the thing, it never had a chance in the first place. When...

Project-based learning in a remote learning environment is a challenge for our Career and Technical Education programs, but it's also an opportunity to find innovative approaches to hands-on learning. In this episode, listeners will learn about tools that CTE leaders can share with teachers to help students engage in real-world projects.  Our guest for this episode is Tisha Richmond. Tisha is...

“CTSO and CTE Programs Ruin Students and Educators for Life!” I shared this comment while working with a group of student leaders, CTE advisors and State Directors in Virginia. The statement was in reference to my thoughts about CTE programs. The statement shocked some at first, then I continued speaking. “CTSO and CTE Programs Ruin Students and Educators for Life in a good way!” I see CTE and CTS...

Blog post by: Shani Watkins, Director of West Sound Technical Skills Center Friday, March 13, our school superintendent, along with the rest of the superintendents in our local educational service district, told us at noon that it would be our last day of school for a while. Though we knew from the sessions with the governor and state superintendent that the time was likely coming, we were hopeful...

COVID-19 has profoundly transformed our education system, and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. In this episode, listeners will hear innovative approaches to online leading and learning, ways to navigate the digital divide, how to streamline processes, how to balance the roles of remote leading while parenting, homeschooling, and navigating an epidemic, what limits to place on social media intak...

This week's guest, Aaron Polansky is the Superintendent-Director of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester , author, and keynote speaker with over 20 years of experience in the field of education.  In this episode, Aaron will share how to find balance in a time of uncertainty. “Is our delivery powerful enough to move the masses? We don’t move unless we are moved. It...

We are seeing the impact of COVID-19 across all aspects of our lives. In light of the rapid spread of the virus, many schools across the country are closing. The move to remote learning comes with unique challenges and issues for CTE programs. This week's guest, Alisha Hyslop is the director of public policy at ACTE and plays a pivotal role in keeping Career and Technical Education leaders updated...