The Network

In the season 7 closer, Eddie Rodriguez and Jeanne Russell from CAST Schools in San Antonio, TX join Corey. The story of the impact CAST schools has on students throughout the San Antonio metro is filled with partnership, innovation and, most importantly, human centered design. This episode is the perfect example of how profession-based learning can be baked into a school culture from the beginnin...

CAPS Network favorite, Rich Sheridan, is back on the pod! Rich joins Corey to talk about the power of building a culture that embraces experimentation and ambiguity. There are so many great nuggets of wisdom about entrepreneurship, leadership and life packed into this episode.  Rich Sheridan is the co-founder and CEO of Menlo Innovations based in Ann Arbor, MI. Rich shares his message of joyful le...

Life updates from CAPS Alumni are the best! In this episode of The Network, Corey catches up with Miriam Yunus an Elmbrook LAUNCH (CAPS affiliate) alumna. Miriam, nearing her college graduation, reflects on the impact profession-based learning has had on her higher-education experience. Corey and Miriam chat about the tangible things: interview experience, resumes, comfortability with public speak...

Jenny Anderson builds the foundation for how we better serve young people today. Anderson joins Corey on this episode of The Network to talk about the different ways teens are showing up in the world today. This conversation is all about how adults - parents, teachers and community members alike - can create space for teenagers to reengage in deeper, more meaningful ways. Corey and Jenny talk abou...

Many of us can relate to Katie Bruels, Chief Nursing Executive at HCA Midwest Health: we've created careers and networks by simply landing there, not necessarily by design. In this episode of The Network, Katie shares her backstory. You'll hear how she got started in nursing and how she has developed that early start into a leadership role at one of the nation's largest healthcare p...

Your mouth will be watering for this bonus February episode! Eric Dell, President and CEO of American Bakers Association and CAPS team member, Nate Clayberg, jump on the podcast to share the incredible partnership they have been forming on behalf of the commercial baking industry and the CAPS Network. Did you know that the commercial baking industry needs just about every job sector: business mana...

Can you already feel the energy of innovation and experimentation in this episode? We can! This week CAPS Executive Director, Corey Mohn, welcomes Kristy Volesky, Founder and Principal of Volesky Consulting and these two start dreaming BIG about the future of education. Tune in to hear Volesky's take on some of the barriers preventing the American education system from total transformation. T...

What do you get when you mix friends, professional passions and a podcast? You get Lisa Dughi, CEO of NAF, back on The Network! Lisa starts by sharing the important work the NAF network of schools is doing across the country. The conversation really gets going as Corey and Lisa talk about what it takes to build and support a movement that changes policy and the culture of education. The Network is...

This thought provoking and rich conversation features Diane Tavenner - education entrepreneur and visionary. Corey and Diane reveal their kindred spirits as they both talk about their work in helping young people find their purpose. Diane shares reflections on her time with Summit Public Schools and Summit Learning and forecasts the future of education with AI, a shift away from "college for...

In this episode of The Network , we sit down with Deonne Christensen , CEO of Mazuma Credit Union , to explore how a spark of partnership can grow into something much bigger. Deonne and Corey share the story of Mazuma’s long-standing relationship with CAPS programs across the Kansas City metro—and how that collaboration has become a true wildfire of opportunity for students, educators, and industr...

In this episode, we talk with Jeremy Smith , founder of Pega6 , a new alternative to traditional higher education for students pursuing software development and product management careers. Built on experiential learning—much like the CAPS model—Pega6 skips the lectures and accelerates students into real-world work. Jeremy shares how Blue Valley CAPS became the proving ground for Pega6, with studen...

The message could not be clearer, according to Jean Eddy : young people must be given the chance to know themselves deeply and to explore widely in order to find their place in the world. Eddy, Executive Chair and Advisory to the Board of Directors at American Student Assistance (ASA), shares her story and call to action in this episode. Read Eddy's Book: Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Rei...

"The barrier to innovation is ourselves." Dr. Gillian Chapman joins Corey to talk about Dr. Chapman's career journey and the challenges facing innovative education today. Dr. Chapman is the new Superintendent of Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, KS. Listen in as Dr. Chapman shares her excitement about deeper engagement not only in her district but across all districts. ...

The Network podcast is 100 episodes old!! To celebrate the 100th episode of our podcast about all things entrepreneurial, innovative and education we bring you a conversation with Dr. Tom Trigg. Dr. Trigg is the person who started it all. Through his vision and leadership the concept of CAPS was born! In this episode, Dr. Trigg shares stories Corey didn't even know about the early years of th...

Meet Kate Parsons, the newest member of the CAPS Network team! In this conversation, Kate shares her journey from teacher to principal at Da Vinci Schools to nonprofit founder of Portal Learning. Now serving as Chief Strategy Officer, she brings a passion for authentic, career-connected learning experiences and a pragmatic approach to sustainable growth. Kate and Corey discuss the challenges of sc...

The Network is back with another packed season! We're kicking off this season talking with our good friends at Oconomowoc CAPS in Oconomowoc, WI: Danielle Bukal and Michael Krill. You've heard about their incredible efforts to get their student deeply engaged in Pro-BL. In this episode Mike and Danielle share their implementation of Camp I.M.P.A.C.T. in which CAPS students experience a p...

Corey is chatting with Daniel Gray from Uplift Education about helping students find their path. Gray shares how Uplift's Texas charter schools are flipping the script on traditional education by connecting 23,000+ students with real-world experiences. Their standout healthcare high school partnership with Baylor Scott & White has kids wearing scrubs, working in simulation labs, and getti...

In this episode, Corey Mohn chats with author and big-picture thinker Michael Horn about his two latest books—especially the newest one, which is all about how to make smarter choices when it comes to your career. Michael breaks down why it’s not just about chasing your passion—it’s about being strategic and making moves that actually set you up for better options down the road. He also talks abou...

Recorded live at ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, Alisa, Nate, Nicole and Kate chat about the highlights and insights found at this year's conference. CAPS team members and affiliates jumped into conversations and sessions about AI, career-connected and work-based learning, middle school career exploration, credentialing and so much more! Listen in to hear the CAPS team's highlight reactions...

Dive into Summer Huddle: Resonance , a high-energy, immersive event focused on networking, collaboration, and action-driven learning. With Residence Studios, Amplify Sessions, and student voices, this is Huddle like never before! Join Corey and Alisa for a behind-the-scenes peek into the planning of Huddle. Join us June 23-25 in Kansas City! 🚀 Register: yourcapsnetwork.org/events . The Network is...

Get ready to be inspired! In this episode, Corey and Julie Lammers from ASA discuss how the education ecosystem must come together to connect students with real-world learning experiences. Julie emphasizes that preparing young people for future success isn’t just about skills — it’s about uniting educators, employers, and communities to create meaningful opportunities. Discover how this collective...

In this episode, Allison Koelzer Nelson, the K-12 liaison for Rural Communities at CAPS Network, sits down with educators from Victoria, Kansas - Kaylene Gabel, Dan Rogers, and Kori Braun - to discuss their journey of embracing innovation and profession-based learning in their small, rural school district. The conversation explores their mindset shift, the implementation of the learning labs model...

In this episode, Allison K. Nelson welcomes Lacey Holloway, a math teacher from Osborne, Kansas, to discuss her experience implementing profession-based learning through the CAPS Network Rural Initiative. Lacey shares how this opportunity has reignited her passion for education and allowed her to provide new, meaningful experiences for her students. The conversation explores Lacey's mindset s...

Magic happens when a classroom educator empowers their students to believe in what's possible. Mr. Burns, business and entrepreneurship educator in Baltimore City Public Schools embodies this magic. Corey and Mr. Burns talk about the possibilities that await students and their entire community when learning goes beyond the four walls of a classroom. We are excited to welcome Mr. Burns and Bal...

We're back for 2025! Right out of the gate Corey talks with Mia Bartlett, Head of Impact at Pearson. CAPS is excited to partner with Pearson Connections Academies to bring the profession based learning experiences to online students. Listen in as Mia shares her vision for the communities who are impacted by this partnership, Pearson's research about the transition from education to caree...