The past week, CAST Schools has had the good fortune to have six members of our team, including one assistant principal, experience SXSW EDU, a national conference in Austin where educators come to pitch innovative ideas and approaches. We’ve attended presentations on topics including youth voice and agency, new ways to measure student success (beyond standardized tests) and Industry Aligned K12 pathways. But what has given me the greatest energy boost has been the emerging coalition of leaders pushing for a new approach to education that focuses on passion and purpose.

At CAST Schools, through our work with the Catalyze Challenge, and more recently through the American Student Assistance, we’ve had the privilege to be a part of new national networks that are forming around career-connected learning.

Career-connected learning is having a moment right now. While education is the source of much controversy, there is clear bipartisan consensus – both in Texas and across the country – on the value of embedding career exploration and experiences into schooling, and there is also strong business support and a growing recognition that workforce development is economic development.

On Wednesday, CAST Schools had the opportunity to present one of the many ways we engage local industry. Sr. Partnership Director Eddie Rodriguez and Student Experience Coordinator Eric Falcon led participants in a short simulation of our speed mentoring model at a session hosted by Catalyze: “Expanding Career Exploration for all Learners.”  

A question I have for readers of this newsletter is: How do we seize this moment? Despite clear support for the type of learning CAST Schools is prototyping, we work inside the public school system, which is experiencing massive disruptions.

Is there a way to build a strong Texas coalition to promote a learning model that ensures that young people are ready to leave our public education system, which currently serves 91 percent of the student population, with a plan and a purpose? CAST Schools is not an advocacy organization, but we stand ready to offer our model as a proof point of what is possible in the public school system.

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director

CAST Schools