In this powerhouse episode, sit down with Dr. Mark Covell—CTE advocate, educational leader, and Director of MBIT—to dig into the past, present, and future of Career & Technical Education (CTE). Together, we unpack the post-COVID surge in CTE interest, the erosion of outdated stigmas, and whyhands-on, real-world learning is not only relevant—it's essential.

🧠 What You'll Learn

• Why CTE is booming nationwide—and why it's not just about“the trades”
• How real-world learning and “learning by doing” boostsengagement and retention
• The critical difference between knowing about acareer and actually experiencing one
• How modern CTE programs prepare students for both the workforce and college
• Why some of the most in-demand, lucrative careers don’t require a traditional 4-year degree
• How CTE educators are leading the way in differentiated instruction, standards-based grading, and authentic assessment—without evencalling it that
• What traditional K-12 can (and should) steal from CTEprograms to improve learning for all kids

🛠️ Memorable Quotes

“When we said ‘college for all,’ we may have accidentallysaid ‘trades for none.’” – Mark Covell

“It’s not ‘just a plumber.’ It’s a skilled entrepreneurwho owns a home on the shore.” – Mark Covell

“Nobody looks at your transcript—they want to know if youcan do the job.” – Dan Thomas

“The number one visited website is Google. Number two?YouTube. We all love to learn by doing.” – Mark Covell

💬 Topics Covered

• CTE structure at MBIT and shared-time model
• How CTE combats the skills gap and boosts workforcereadiness
• Rewriting the narrative on blue-collar careers
• The evolving role of technology and robotics in skilledtrades
• Addressing the national teacher shortage through CTEhiring pipelines
• Why traditional education needs to get its hands dirty—in a good way

🔗 Connect with Dr. Mark Covelle

LinkedIn: Mark Covelle

Twitter/X: @mcovelle

Middle Bucks Institute of Technology: https://www.mbit.org

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Don’t miss an episode—subscribe to The Tech EdClubhouse wherever you get your podcasts and follow Dan at @CoachThomasTech

Episode Summary:
In this jam-packed episode, Dan sits down with blended learning expert, author, and teacher advocate Dr. Catlin Tucker to unpack the shift from teacher-led to student-led classrooms. They explore what this really looks like in practice, how to reimagine classroom workflows to avoid burnout, and how AI—when used wisely—can be a teacher’s best co-designer. They also dig into feedback loops, classroom design, and how educators can reclaim their time without sacrificing engagement or standards. Plus, Dr. Tucker drops details on her first-ever Summer Learning Kickoff—a PD opportunity you won’t want to miss.

Topics Covered:

• What “student-led” actually means (and doesn’t)

• The teacher burnout trap—and how to escape it

• Small workflow shifts with big impact

• Why feedback needs to be fast, not flawless

• How to use AI as a design partner, not a crutch

• What a student-centered classroom physically looks like

• Tools and strategies from station rotation to personalized AI tutors

• Details on Dr. Tucker’s Summer Learning Kickoff (June 2–6)

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Tucker’s site: CatlinTucker.com

• Dr. Tucker’s new book: Elevating Educational Design with AI

• SchoolAI: schoolai.com

Follow Dr. Tucker:

• X/Twitter: @Catlin_Tucker

• Instagram: @catlintucker

In this episode, I sit down with veteran educator and STEM advocate Chris Woods. You might know him from DailySTEM.com or The STEM Everyday Podcast — and if you don't yet, you're going to love the practical ideas he shares. Chris and I talk about how STEM is everywhere if you know where to look and how we can help all teachers (not just STEM teachers) build student confidence, curiosity, and durable skills.

We dig into everything from:

· Making STEM approachable, even if you're new to it

· The power of real-world examples to make learning stick

·Showing students the career opportunities right in their own backyard

· How trades and hands-on jobs are vital parts of the STEM world

· Helping kids build resilience through iteration and celebrating failure

· Why cross-curricular learning is more important than ever

Chris brings a ton of experience, humor, and heart to this conversation, and if you're looking for ideas to make learning more meaningful for your students, you're going to walk away with a bunch you can use tomorrow.

Topics We Discussed:

• How to make STEM accessible for every teacher
• Finding quick, real-world STEM connections to bring into any classroom
• Why every kid needs at least one class they love coming to each day
• The importance of trades, hands-on learning, and durable skills
• How to balance structured curriculum with playful, project-based learning
• Small ways to integrate STEM into English, history, math, and more
• Favorite classroom projects like Cardboard Pinball and Shoe Design challenges

Favorite Quotes from Chris:

“Life is cross-curricular. Education should be too.”

“Kids won’t always remember the worksheet... but they will remember the project where they failed, iterated, and finally succeeded.”

“STEM is not just about engineering or coding—it’s in nursing, trucking, welding, logistics. It's in the real world our students are walking into.”

Connect with Chris Woods:

🌎 Website: DailySTEM.com

🎙️ Podcast: The STEM Everyday Podcast (Available wherever you listen to podcasts)

📲 Twitter/X: @DailySTEM

Resources We Mentioned:

NASA STEM YouTube Channel – for quick, inspiring career videos

Daily STEM Newspaper – free monthly STEM articles for your classroom

Fusion 360 – student-friendly CAD software for project-based learning

Makey Makey – easy hands-on invention kits

My Takeaway for You:

✅ Find just one small way this week to show your students how STEM is part of their world — a news story, a hands-on activity, even a quick conversation.
✅ Let them struggle. Let them iterate. That’s where real learning (and confidence) happens.
✅And most importantly — keep it fun