265 - Corey Mohn and Shameka Montgomery on Next-Gen Career Education

<p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">In today’s episode of the <em>Getting Smart</em> Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Corey Mahn and Shameka Montgomery to discuss next-gen career education.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Corey Mohn is the Executive Director of the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (or CAPS for short). This next-generation career center supports five suburban Kansas city high schools with, what they call professions-based learning, an applied project-based learning that immerses young people in the challenges of high wage, high growth jobs. This next-gen career center has inspired a national network that includes more than 60 school districts. And one of these school districts is Little Rock Public Schools where Shameka Montgomery is Director of Career Development.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">In their conversation today, Shameka and Corey join Tom to discuss how career education has changed in Little Rock. Corey tells the origin story of Blue Valley CAPS and the impetus for CAPS becoming a national network, how other school districts join their network and upgrade their career education through their affiliation, and what is on the CAPS roadmap. Shameka shares her insights on how their learning opportunities at Little Rock have improved due to their CAPS affiliation and how and why this applied, hands-on, community-connected learning is making a major difference for young people in Little Rock.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">[:10] About today’s episode with Corey Mohn and Shameka Montgomery.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">[:48] Jessica shares an email from a recent graduate of the Excel Careers for Advanced Professional Studies high school in Little Rock.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">[1:40] Tom welcomes Corey and Shame