What if the bridge between high school and the workforce didn’t feel like a leap into the unknown?

Hear from Adam Whalen and Misty Wharton, two Oregon education leaders helping reshape how students prepare for life after graduation. Often referred to as “career and college readiness,” this work is about much more than shop class or a checklist for graduation. It’s about building clear, relevant pathways that lead to living-wage careers and helping students discover what fits before they commit.

From hands-on learning and workforce certifications to partnerships with local industry, Adam and Misty share how a regional approach can expand opportunity for all students across rural and urban communities alike. They discuss why experiential learning matters, how outdated perceptions of career and technical education persist and what it would look like if every student graduated with a clear and confident next step.

The goal? A future where students don’t ask, “What do I want to do?” but instead say, “I know what I want to do, and I know how to get there.”

Read this article.