Richard Kincaid, the State Director of Career and Technical Education for the District of Columbia, shares his journey to becoming a passionate advocate for educational equity and opportunity. His career spans over two decades, during which he has dedicated himself to building systems that drive meaningful impact in K-12 public schools, government, and educational non-profits.

Kincaid's focus is on Career and Technical Education (CTE), providing students with access to diverse pathways beyond traditional academia, whether directly into college, the workforce, or national service.

The conversation delves into the establishment of Washington, DC's first Advanced Technical Center (ATC), aimed at providing CTE courses that were previously out of reach for many students. The ATC offers programs in nursing, cybersecurity, and more, providing students with industry-recognized credentials and dual credits, saving them thousands of dollars in future education costs. Kincaid highlights the center's inclusive transportation model, ensuring access for all students regardless of location.

Moreover, Kincaid discusses the significance of CTE programs in addressing workforce shortages, particularly in high-demand fields. He emphasizes the need to dispel stigmas surrounding trades and vocational education, showcasing success stories of students finding fulfilling careers through CTE pathways.

Resources:

Today's sponsor, Xello is the only career development program built with the entire district community in mind. Xello provides every student of all pathways the freedom to create meaningful future plans, while giving educators the resources they need to help students.

With a carefully designed, student-centered experience, Xello meets accessibility standards and offers age-appropriate career development for every student K-12. Xello creates effective educator workflows so you can spend less time checking boxes and more time helping students. Learn more here or here. 

Read about Strengths-Based College and Career Exploration Strategies for K-12 Educators

Hear from hear from Laura Benisch, the Director of Career Planning and Partnerships at the Lincoln Academy Public Charter School in Beloit Wisconsin,  about real-world and career-focused learning, and the platform that is supporting all of the educators and K-12 scholars in the state of Wisconsin in career exploration.

Learn the story behind Xello from CEO and co-founder Jeff Harris.

Reach out to Richard W. Kincaid

State Director, Career and Technical Education

Pronouns: he / him / his (why pronouns matter)

Click Here to Schedule a Meeting

Twitter: @careertechninja

Web: careertechdc.org

Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations - fun and free, 1-hour digital Professional Learning for teachers from all content areas and grades levels

EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action