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Future-Ready High Schools: 5 Moves for AI and the Industry 4.0 Era
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST
Presented by Tim Fortune, Director of Career and Technical Education, Spokane Public Schools (WA); Ericka Mabion, Real World Learning Manager, Kansas City Public Schools (MO); and Jason Rausch, Senior Vice President of Instructional Development, Project Lead The Way
Sponsored by Project Lead The Way
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Work is changing faster than course catalogs. This edWebinar equips high school and district leaders to align grades 9–12 programs with near-future careers—using AI and Advanced Manufacturing as timely examples. We explore five program shifts future-ready schools are making and share practical frameworks, leadership questions to take back to your teams, and examples you can adapt to your local context. You walk away with clarity on where to start, how to scale, and what signals to watch as programs evolve.
Learning objectives include:
- Identify five high-impact shifts that prepare students for emerging careers (AI and Advanced Manufacturing as exemplars)
- Prioritize near-term actions for grades 9–12 programs using a start→expand→deepen mindset
- Connect pathway outcomes to standards, work-based learning, and regional employer needs
- Use simple, industry-informed language to discuss quality, workflow, and teamwork with school teams and stakeholders
This recorded edWebinar is of interest to high school teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and CTE directors and coordinators.
About the Presenters
Tim Fortune serves as Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Spokane Public Schools in Washington State, where he leads districtwide efforts to align CTE pathways with the workforce needs of the Inland Northwest across health sciences, business and marketing, STEM, and skilled trades. Coming to education through the skilled trades, Tim brings a hands-on perspective to developing programs that connect learning to real-world application. Under his leadership, Spokane has expanded access to high-demand programs through the Spokane Trades High School initiative, the regional Skills Center, work-based learning initiatives, and partnerships with industry, postsecondary institutions, and local workforce councils. Tim’s work focuses on ensuring every student graduates with the technical skills, credentials, and experiences that connect them to high-wage, high-demand careers.
Ericka Mabion is a dedicated education leader with over two decades of experience in instructional leadership, career and technical education, and real-world learning. As the current Real World Learning Manager for Kansas City Public Schools, she leads strategic initiatives that connect students to career pathways through internships, client-connected projects, and industry partnerships. Ericka has earned multiple honors, including Project Lead the Way’s 2022 Administrator of the Year and three Teacher of the Year awards. She holds certifications in K–12 administration, early childhood, and elementary education across Missouri and Texas. A seasoned professional development facilitator, she trains educators in STEM, project-based learning, and educational technology. Ericka is completing her Education Specialist degree in Administration at UMKC and is passionate about expanding equitable access to career readiness for all students.
Jason Rausch serves as Senior Vice President of Instructional Development at Project Lead The Way, where he leads the strategic design and delivery of instructional programs that prepare students for real-world careers and emerging technologies. He oversees the development of high school-level computer science, engineering, and biomedical science curricula and teacher training, ensuring they are rigorous, inclusive, and aligned with industry expectations. Jason manages cross-functional teams focused on curriculum architecture, digital content innovation, educator support systems, and scalable learning experiences.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
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Inspiring PreK-12 Students and Teachers in Thousands of Schools Across the U.S.
School and district leaders need a solution that cultivates confidence and career readiness—and PLTW checks all the boxes. As a nonprofit organization founded by educators and driven by education leaders, we’ve spent more than 28 years equipping students with the technical knowledge, transferable skills, and career confidence they need to thrive—through programs that integrate real-world industry partnerships, best-in-class teacher training, and our proven activity-, project-, problem-based (APB) instructional model.
