The Pressures on U.S. Education
Our education system is under tremendous strain. Consider:
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The U.S. spends $14,347 per pupil annually, among the highest in the world, yet American students rank 36th in math and 13th in reading according to 2022 PISA results.
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Schools face declining enrollment driven by birthrates, shrinking budgets, staffing shortages, and political battles over curriculum.
The once-unquestioned “college-for-all” pathway is increasingly challenged. Families and educators alike are asking: What if there’s a better way to prepare students for purposeful, sustainable careers?
Increasingly, students and families recognize that learning a skill can mean financial stability, career flexibility, and dignity of work.
The Silver Lining: A Renaissance of CTE
That question leads us to career and technical education (CTE).
It’s important to distinguish between skilled trades and CTE. CTE is broader, encompassing healthcare, information technology, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Skilled trades, such as welding, carpentry, automotive, and electrical, fall within CTE. What unites them is their focus on preparing students for high-demand, real-world careers.
CTE addresses today’s challenges directly:
The old stigma around trade and technical programs is disappearing. Increasingly, students and families recognize that learning a skill can mean financial stability, career flexibility, and dignity of work.
To sustain this momentum, education can’t do it alone.
Businesses, utilities, manufacturers, and trade organizations — those who depend directly on skilled labor — must play a more active role. This is a shared opportunity between industry and education.
Forward-thinking companies are already partnering with public schools, charter networks, vocational programs, community colleges, and universities to build apprenticeship pipelines and career pathways that start early and lead to real jobs.
These collaborations serve both sides:
It’s not just philanthropy — it’s strategy. As baby boomers retire, industries from energy to transportation face critical labor gaps. By aligning with local schools and postsecondary programs, businesses can shape curricula, modernize training facilities, and ensure education reflects the evolving realities of their trades.
Imagine if every district, technical college, and regional employer formed a structured partnership designed to develop the next generation of electricians, HVAC techs, machinists, and healthcare specialists. That’s not a dream — it’s an economic necessity.
The Opportunity for Schools
Schools that embrace CTE gain a powerful differentiator. They can show parents and communities that their programs don’t just teach — they launch careers.
At the same time, many districts are operating with fewer resources. Budget cuts, leadership retirements, and staff shortages have increased reliance on cooperative purchasing contracts. These contracts enable schools to invest efficiently in the tools, technology, and infrastructure needed to sustain modern CTE and partnership programs.
Simply put: CTE is not just an academic initiative — it’s a bridge between education and the workforce. When schools and industries collaborate, students win, communities thrive, and the workforce pipeline strengthens.
Over nearly four decades, I’ve witnessed countless waves of change—curriculum reforms, funding battles, and technology revolutions. What makes this moment different is that education’s purpose is being redefined in real time.
My experience has given me:
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Collaboration across suppliers, field teams, and cooperatives to support districts in practical, scalable ways.
I believe the future of education will depend on how well we connect classrooms to careers. And that means bringing schools and employers together under a shared mission.
Education is evolving. The “college-for-all” model is giving way to a broader, more inclusive definition of success — one that values skill, craftsmanship, and applied learning.
The “tool belt generation” represents not a step backward, but a powerful leap forward — a workforce renaissance built on purpose, pride, and opportunity.
If embraced through true collaboration between education and industry, this movement will benefit students, schools, communities, and the economy.
After 38 years serving the education sector, I see this not as a passing trend but as a permanent reinvention — and one I’m proud to continue championing.