Redesigning Education for the Future Workforce ft. Roberto Rodriguez | Lessons Learned | Ep 20

Lessons Learned

How can we redesign education to truly prepare students for the future of work?

“ Would we design a system where the high school diploma is the end goal for our secondary schools, or would we design a system that provides more avenues for industry credentials and early college credit and early planning? Would we design a system that is not engaging our students or providing them the agency that they need to be able to take ownership for their education? Or would we design a system that really personalizes and supports our students, meets them where they are, and provides them opportunities to plan and practice for their future?” -Roberto Rodriguez

In this episode of Lessons Learned Season 2, host Matt sits down with Roberto Rodriguez, former Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, to discuss how schools can better prepare students for the rapidly changing world of work.

Drawing on decades of experience in education policy and his personal journey as the son of public school educators, Roberto shares his vision for aligning K–12, higher ed, and industry to create a unified system of college and career readiness.

They explore how states like Indiana and Colorado are leading the way with dual enrollment, apprenticeships, and work-based learning — and why integrating workforce skills into high school curricula is key to equitable opportunity and economic mobility.

Together, they discuss:

• How to bridge the gap between education and workforce systems
• The role of educators in preparing future-ready graduates
• What it takes to design scalable, equitable career pathways
• Why collaboration across sectors is essential for long-term success

Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, or workforce leader, this conversation offers a hopeful, forward-looking perspective on reimagining education for a changing world.

Connect with our host:

• Matt Kennard’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-kennard-0ba4145/

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