In the inaugural episode of Pathmakers: Stories of College, Career, and Everything in Between, Maryland State Department of Education’s Assistant State Superintendent Richard Kincaid and Chief Growth Officer at Bluekit, Dr. Rick Fernandez explore the critical transformation of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Maryland. They address the historical "disconnect" between traditional academic core subjects and career pathways, revealing how the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is creating a single, connected set of opportunities for all students. By shifting from silos to a systems approach, educators can move beyond rigid scheduling to focus on student growth and agency.

Listeners will learn how Maryland is positioning itself as a leader in the skills-based economy by aligning classroom standards with the real-time demands of industry. The conversation highlights the "gold standard" of registered apprenticeships and the importance of early career identity starting in kindergarten. By removing structural barriers, such as scheduling constraints and the "college-only" mindset, Maryland is ensuring that every student has an equitable path to a family-sustaining career.

Chuck Wallace, MSDE Coordinator

Richard Kincaid, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of College and Career Pathways, MSDE

Dr. Rick Fernandez, Chief Growth Officer, BlueKit

00:00 Podcast Intro and Welcome

02:29 Defining the Change in Maryland

05:04 The Blueprint and Critical Reform

08:37 System Alignment and Innovation

14:20 AI Implementation and Critical Thinking

18:10 Re-centering the Educator’s North Star

22:58 Reframing College as a Pathway

27:30 Industry ROI and Value Propositions

32:53 Career Identity and Mentorship

36:47 Cross-cutting Sectors and Strategic Partnerships

41:59 Retiring Myths: CTE is Academic

43:29 Equity Guardrails: All Means All

46:52 Empowering Teachers through Externships

Our first episode goes live on Thursday April 30th!