Join Chuck Wallace as he explores the modern landscape of advanced academics with Anthony Vargas and Kysha Egungbemi from the Maryland State Department of Education’s Advanced Academics and Gifted and Talented office.

In this episode, Anthony and Kysha break down the crucial differences between being identified as "Gifted and Talented" and participating in advanced academic programming like AP and IB. They tackle common misconceptions that hold students back, highlighting how these programs are designed for any student ready for additional rigor, not just traditional honor roll students. You will also hear real-world implementation strategies from county leaders Becky Berberich and Joe Sutton, who discuss how automatic enrollment and "opt-out" policies are breaking down barriers, removing unintentional bias, and changing the culture of student belonging.

If you are an educator, administrator, or parent looking to expand equity, access, and opportunity for all students in the classroom, this episode provides a masterclass in challenging the status quo.

Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment!

Learn more about the Maryland State Department of Education at https://marylandpublicschools.org/.

Host: Chuck Wallace

Guests:

Anthony Vargas, Director, Advanced Academics & GT 

Kysha Egungbemi, Coordinator, Advanced Academics & GT

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

01:12 Defining Advanced Academics

04:37 Clearing Up Misconceptions

06:25 College and Career Pathways

11:06 County Implementation Examples

15:08 Automatic Enrollment Equity

21:01 The Power of Opt-Out Policies

27:56 Core Values and Collaboration

33:25 Closing

Join Chuck Wallace on Path Makers as he unpacks the critical shift from compliance-driven monitoring to outcome-driven collaboration in Maryland Public Schools. In this episode, Chuck is joined by Jeff Wyatt and Dr. Tatum Williams, Performance Specialists from the Division of Special Education’s Secondary Transition team.

Together, they break down the fundamental difference between simply tracking educational inequity and actively designing access so that all students—including those with disabilities—are automatically included in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and advanced academics. You’ll hear how embedding Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) into technical coursework, aligning advising practices, and fostering true interagency collaboration is empowering students to leave high school with real, industry-recognized credentials.

If you are an educator, counselor, or school administrator looking to bridge the gap between special education and career readiness, this episode offers a practical blueprint for ensuring every student thrives.

Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment! Learn more at marylandpublicschools.org.

Host: Chuck Wallace

Guests: Jeff Wyatt, Secondary Transition Performance Specialist

 and Dr. Tatum Williams, Secondary Transition Performance Specialist

Time Stamps: 

00:00 Intro

01:31 Shift from Monitoring to Design

03:30 What Designing Access Means

06:55 Aligning with Readiness Endorsements

09:40 The Post-Secondary Success Campaign

12:27 State Agencies Transition Collaborative

16:47 Counselors and Special Educators

20:19 Engaging Families with Clarity

22:45 Role of Career Connected Learning

26:49 Equipping CTE Educators

28:53 Career Coaches and Counseling

34:55 The Ultimate Operational Blueprint

37:21 Closing

In Part 2 of our deep dive into Career Clusters, we move from the "why" to the "how." Host Chuck Wallace welcomes back Dan Hinderliter (Advanced CTE), Marquita Friday, Sally Irwin, and Scott Nichols to unpack Maryland's innovative CTE Flex Model. This new approach moves away from rigid, four-course sequences and empowers students to "choose their own adventure" based on their unique career goals.

Listeners will discover how the new model uses two foundational core courses followed by flexible options like Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment, or "Career Connected Learning"—such as apprenticeships and school-based enterprises. The panel discusses how this shift not only increases student agency but also expands equity by freeing up program capacity. From "curriculum agnostic" standards to post-secondary crosswalks, learn how Maryland is building a system where every student can design a future that fits them.

Host:

Chuck Wallace, Coordinator of Career Technical Student Organizations, MSDE

Guests:

Dan Hinderliter, Associate Director, State Policy at Advance CTE 

Marquita Friday, Director of School Support, MSDE 

Sally Irwin, Coordinator of School Support, MSDE 

Scott Nichols, Coordinator of School Support, MSDE

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro and Recap 

01:08 CTE Flex Model Explained 

02:22 Choosing Your Adventure 

03:55 Career Connected Learning 

05:38 National Alignment and Personalized Pathways 

08:25 Ensuring Equity and Consistency 

11:19 Streamlining Local Implementation 

13:12 Post-Secondary Crosswalks 

15:15 Episode Recap and Closing

In Part 1 of this two-part special, we explore the massive shift occurring in Career and Technical Education (CTE), both nationally and within Maryland. Host Chuck Wallace is joined by Dan Hinderliter from Advanced CTE, along with MSDE leaders Marquita Friday, Scott Nichols, and Sally Irwin, to discuss why the 2002 "iPod era" framework is being retired in favor of a modern, interdisciplinary approach.

The group breaks down the move from rigid academic silos to dynamic "cluster groupings" that reflect the reality of the modern workforce. Listeners will learn why Maryland is streamlining over 80 programs down to 48 high-quality pathways, how "backwards mapping" from industry credentials ensures relevance, and why shifting from strict curriculum to flexible standards empowers local school systems. This episode lays the foundation for understanding how Maryland is ensuring every student graduates with a competitive advantage.

Chuck Wallace, Coordinator of Career Technical Student Organizations, MSDE

Dan Hinderliter, Associate Director, State Policy at Advance CTE 

Marquita Friday, Director of School Support, MSDE 

Sally Irwin, Coordinator of School Support, MSDE 

Scott Nichols, Coordinator of School Support, MSDE

00:00 Podcast Intro and Welcome 

01:27 Updating the National Framework 

04:20 Breaking Down Career Silos 

05:30 Cross-Cutting Career Clusters 

08:40 Maryland’s 14 Clusters 

09:58 Aligning to Industry Needs 

11:32 Industry Recognized Credentials 

14:06 Local Advisory Committees 

16:39 Streamlining to 48 Programs 

20:55 National Perspective on Maryland 

22:20 Closing

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!