workforce skills

K12 Education

Beyond Teacher Burnout: Nate Eklund on Transforming Teacher Engagement and the Vital Network

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer interviews Nate Eklund, founder and CEO of ⁠Vital Network⁠, about the critical issues of teacher and administrative burnout in the U.S. Nate shares his journey from a high school teacher to an expert in education workforce development, driven by a passion for creating sustainable and engaging work environments in schools. We also touch on Nate’s groundbreaking work: ⁠How Was Your Day at School: Improving Dialog About Teacher Job Satisfaction⁠.  

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Future of Work

Career Connected Learning and the Science of You with Edson Barton, YouScience CEO

In this enlightening episode of ⁠Trending in Ed⁠, host Mike Palmer engages in a dynamic conversation with Edson Barton, co-founder and CEO of ⁠YouScience⁠, diving deep into the transformative power of career education and aptitude assessment. Edson shares his own compelling origin story, reflecting on how his early struggles in school ignited a passion for revolutionizing the way we approach education and career guidance.  

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Higher Education

Who Needs College Anymore? with Author Kathleen deLaski

Kathleen deLaski, author of Who Needs College Anymore? Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won’t Matter joins host Mike Palmer for a candid conversation about the future of higher education. With rising college costs and a shifting job market, many are questioning the value of a traditional college degree. We dig into it with Kathleen who brings her unique blend of experience at the Education Design Lab and beyond to bear on the conversation.

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Future of Work

Building a Future Ready Workforce with Joshua Wright

In this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer sits down with Josh Wright, Executive Vice President of Growth, Education and Government for Lightcast, to discuss the future of work and workforce demographic shifts. We dive deep into Lightcast’s report “The Rising Storm: Building a Future Ready Workforce to Withstand the Looming Labor Shortage.” Josh shares insights on the demographic drought facing the workforce, including accelerated baby boomer retirements, declining birth rates, and decreasing labor force participation.

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Higher Education

Bridging the Skills Gap with Sara Leoni

In this special bonus episode recorded at the HolonIQ Back to School Summit in New York City, we catch up with Sara Leoni, CEO & Founder of Ziplines Education, for a candid hallway conversation. Sara shares her journey from Division I softball player to EdTech entrepreneur, discussing how her athletic background shaped her leadership style and business acumen.

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Future of Work

Breaking Barriers to Workforce Participation with Jane Oates

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer welcomes back Jane Oates, senior policy advisor at Working Nation, for her third (fridge-magnet-earning) appearance on the show. Jane and Mike dive deep into workforce development, education, and the role of technology in shaping the future of work. We discuss Working Nation’s “Breaking Barriers” series, the challenges of implementing new technologies in education and workforce development, and strategies for encouraging employee upskilling and AI literacy.

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Learning

The Future of Learning, Workforce, and Infrastructure with Katy Knight

In this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer welcomes Katy Knight, President and Executive Director of the Siegel Family Endowment. We dive into the intersection of technology, society, and education, exploring how these elements shape our future. Mike referenced Katy’s appearance on The Cusp with Paul Fain in the open.

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Future of Work

Creating a New Marketplace for Work Experience with Matt Wilkerson

In this engaging episode, Mike Palmer sits down with Matt Wilkerson, the founder and CEO of Extern, to discuss his innovative approach to bridging the gap between education and the workforce. Wilkerson shares his fascinating journey, from his early career aspirations to the pivotal experiences that inspired him to create Extern, a platform that offers remote “Externships” – short-term, structured work experiences designed to equip students with real-world skills and hands-on experience.

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Higher Education

Helping Folks Finish Up Higher Education with Terah Crews

Host Mike Palmer goes in-depth on the “some college, no degree” crisis with Terah Crews, CEO of ReUp Education. A startling 41 million American adults – roughly 1 in 6 – have incomplete college credits but no degree. Crews powerfully argues that ignoring this population exacerbates enrollment, workforce, and wage gaps across society.

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