On the latest episode of CEA’s Podcast, Two T’s in a Pod, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey are joined by a special guest, Dr. Miguel Cardona. The former U.S. Secretary of Education and Connecticut Commissioner of Education was recently named by Governor Lamont as chair of the Connecticut Career Pathways Commission, which is tasked with helping create a system to connect students to jobs in high-demand fields.
Cardona describes the career pathways focus as problem-based learning that represents better pedagogy for students.
“Let’s get [students] to put down their screens, let’s get them out into the workforce to get internship experiences, and then come back and talk about, ‘Okay, what did I learn here,’ or get them to solve problems by working with teams of people,” he said.
As a student at Wilcox Technical High School in Meriden, Cardona said his horizons were broadened by an automotive program that offered a variety of options and brought together a diverse student body.
“I had an opportunity to learn with people that are totally different than me. These were students who came from different communities, different cultures, and different backgrounds,” he says. “It’s about graduating with options. It’s about making sure that our K-12 is part of the solution for Connecticut, as well as our higher ed system.”
He adds, “We have a chance to really build what Connecticut looks like together and make sure that everyone, including the parents, the students, our industry partners, our higher ed, and our educators all have a role in shaping what that looks like for Connecticut.”
Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts to hear more of the discussion above as well as Cardona’s thoughts on the need for investments in public schools, the role of testing in education, and more.
