Mark Covelle, administrative director at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology in Jamison, Penn., wants you to think of career and technical education as a “career and college” rather than “career or college.”

Covelle sees today’s students and families as more debt‑averse and skeptical of “college for college’s sake,” instead seeking pathways that offer early wage‑earning, employer‑supported education, and a strong return on investment

He spoke at a roundtable session Thursday afternoon titled “The New Basics: Building Real-World Pathways Through CTE, Partnerships, and Future-Ready Skills.”

In this podcast, Covelle says students at his school enter the workforce or higher education ready to tackle jobs in their fields; for example, nursing students applying to nursing school already know that is their preferred career path, having worked in hospital settings previously.

He also explains the ultimate goal l as a coherent K–12 system in which every student graduates with tangible skills, some form of certification or dual credit, and a clear, adaptable plan that can flex from apprenticeships into associate’s and bachelor’s degrees as their ambitions grow.

To view the full list of podcast episodes, click here.