American Student Assistance® (ASA) — a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and navigate a path to postsecondary education and career success — is a proud sponsor of the upcoming blended high school pathways event, “Paving the Way for Pathways: Connecting Local Schools and Businesses,” in partnership with our friends at Getting Smart alongside Tacoma Public Schools and Puget Sound ESD.
Slated for October 19-20 in Tacoma, WA, at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, this groundbreaking event will spotlight and connect Washington State schools, local businesses, industry, K12, higher education, community organizations, nonprofits and cultural centers that are forging meaningful partnerships that will shape the future of equitable pathways to success for all students.
As part of the event agenda, American Student Assistance (ASA) will be participating in the following panel discussions.
Day 1: Thursday, October 19
New Pathways (Link)
1:00-2:00 PM PT | Location: Ballroom A
In this keynote, hosting organizations and representatives of Tacoma will welcome visitors to the convening with goals for shared time together. Attendees will then be a part of a quick landscape view of pre-existing pathways programs in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area.
Moderated By:
- Shawnee Caruthers, Vice President Advocacy, Getting Smart
Panelists:
- Jean Eddy, CEO & President, American Student Assistance (ASA)
- Brad Brown, Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Leadership Development, Puget Sound ESD
- Josh Garcia, Superintendent, Tacoma Public Schools
Credentialing (Link)
3:15-4:00 PM PT | Location: Ballroom A
Credentialing offers a viable skills-based pathway to high wage employment and economic mobility. Moving beyond proxies for skills (such as diplomas or degrees) into proficiency and demonstration increases success for both the learner and the employer. Join leaders from NAF, GPS Education Partners, ASA and Kauffman Real World Learning for a conversation about current and future initiatives in this space.
Moderated By:
- Nate McClennen, Vice President Strategy and Innovation, Getting Smart
Panelists Include:
- Lisa Dughi, CEO, NAF
- Andy Hepburn, Chief Innovation Officer, GPS Education
- Anna Hennes, Program Leader, Kauffman Foundation
- Julie Lammers, Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Corporate Social Responsibility, American Student Assistance (ASA)
Day 2: Friday October 20
K-12 Career Education: Preparing Learners for their Future (Link)
9:00 AM-9:45 AM PT | Location: Ballroom A
Three authors take the stage in this keynote session to share their common imperative–an urgent plea to transform K12 career education and give young people the critical information, experiences, and skills they need to prepare for jobs of tomorrow. Jean Eddy from American Student Assistance, Tom Vander Ark from Getting Smart, and Elliott Washor from Big Picture Learning, will discuss their thoughts on leveraging technology and the community to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences to extend career exploration and experiential learning.
Moderated By: Judy Goldstein, Senior Vice President, PR, Communications and Planning
Panelists Include:
- Jean Eddy, CEO & President, American Student Assistance (ASA)
- Tom Vander Ark, CEO, Getting Smart
- Elliot Washor, Co-Founder, Big Picture Learning
Policy and State-Level Support for Pathways and Innovation (Link)
1:00-1:45 PM PT | Location: Ballroom A
Pathways aren’t possible without supporting policy. In the last few years federal and state governments have made huge strides toward expanding access and opportunity to pathways for all learners. This panel discussion will focus on some of the focus areas and hear what’s to come.
Moderated By:
- John Welch, Superintendent, Puget Sound ESD
Panelists Include:
- Julie Lammers, Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Corporate Social Responsibility, American Student Assistance (ASA)
- Sarah Castro, Senior Director of Programs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Washington State Representative
- Rebecca Wallace, Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education and Pathway Preparation, Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Work-Based Learning (Link)
2:00-2:45 PM PT | Location: Ballroom A
Work-based learning opportunities can range from apprenticeships to internships to client-connect projects. This panel will highlight how these programs can best be structured to ensure that the learners have lasting, high-quality experiences while also receiving credit and compensation.
Moderated By:
- Julie Lammers, Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Corporate Social Responsibility, American Student Assistance (ASA)
Panelists Include:
- Anna Hennes, Program Leader, Kauffman Foundation
- Casey Henry, Internship Coordinator, Gibson Ek High School
- Lisa Dughi, CEO, NAF
- Elliot Washor, Co-Founder, Big Picture Learning
Design Workshop: New School Models + Next Gen Systems (Link)
1:00-2:45 PM PT | Location: Breakout Room 317
Building next gen systems requires strategic and effective communication and is often made easier by building in networks. This session will unpack how to get started with new school models, single school pathways, wall-to-wall, microschools and more.
Panelists Leads Include:
- Michael Murphy, Senior Manager, Strategic Communications, American Student Assistance (ASA)
- Rebecca Midles, Vice President Learning Design, Getting Smart
- Nate McClennen, Vice President Strategy and Innovation, Getting Smart