This week, CAST had the absolute privilege to be featured in multiple ways at the national Empower Schools Innovation School Action Summit held at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, starting off by hosting a school visit at our flagship school, CAST Tech. Students led table discussions with visiting leaders about the CAST pillars, guided school tours, and joined a panel discussion with two of our board members, Lisa Lewis from CPS Energy and Dr. Lyssa Ochoa of the San Antonio Vascular & Endovascular (SAVE) Clinic. 

After transitioning to A&M-San Antonio, another group of CAST students, representing 3 schools (CAST STEM, CAST Lead and CAST Med) conducted a feedback session for visiting adults on CAST’s work around supporting young people as they develop their voice and agency. 

And then, before the final lunch, FEVERDREAM, a rock band from the Advanced Learning Academy, performed for the entire group of Summit participants. 

We’re so fortunate to have partners like Empower Schools who understand the importance of centering young people, so that we are continually reminded of why we do what we do. In addition to CAST Schools, Summit-goers visited other San Antonio 1882 partnership schools, and students from Memorial High School in Edgewood catered lunch and snacks for the event.

In between the showcasing of students, I had an opportunity to join a panel on one of my favorite topics: Reimagining High School. One of my fellow panelists, Denise Thorne from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching noted that there is a consensus in this country that the purpose of high school is to advance economic mobility, yet our incentive and measurement systems do not line up with that desired result.

Thorne also noted that one of the most needed changes in schooling today is to do away with Carnegie’s creation: the Carnegie unit. For more than 100 years, we have measured school by credit hours. Carnegie is now one of the leading voices arguing that we need to shift and pay attention to the acquisition of competencies rather than time in seats.

It’s exciting to be around people who see new possibilities for how we can make high school exciting, relevant, and joyful for young people, and are part of a movement for positive change.

After the visit to CAST Tech, I received this email from Nathan Gorsch, who is starting a network of career-connected schools in Colorado Springs. “CAST Schools…is a series of career-connected schools with intentional industry partnerships. I have visited several of the schools and love the model, but even more love the culture of the schools that care deeply about young people. I have been in hundreds of schools around the country and I can honestly say that CAST Tech is one of my favorites,” he said.

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director

CAST Schools