Productive Disruption

In the latest episode of Productive Disruption, Dusty Moore, CEO of iCEV, talks about coming up through four years of ag sciences and FFA — and how the public speaking and communication skills he built there are still what he leans on most in his career today. He and Dan break down why CTE isn't the fallback path people assume it is, and why the research backs that up: students in CTE programs tend to perform better, not worse.

In the latest episode of Productive Disruption, Dusty Moore, CEO of iCEV, talks about coming up through four years of ag sciences and FFA — and how the public speaking and communication skills he built there are still what he leans on most in his career today. He and Dan break down why CTE isn't the fallback path people assume it is, and why the research backs that up: students in CTE programs tend to perform better, not worse.

Most districts know they're losing students. Very few know to whom. Almost none know why.

In this episode, Rhodes Branding President Dan Wyar breaks down the four-part diagnostic Rhodes uses when a district comes to us with an enrollment problem including the one question most leaders never think to ask.

In this episode, Rhodes Branding President Dan Wyar walks through the exact questions we use before beginning any brand or campaign work and what the answers reveal.

Every engagement at Rhodes Branding begins with a series of conversations we call Brand Insight Meetings. The questions we ask in those meetings determine everything that follows.

In this episode, Rhodes Branding President Dan Wyar sits down with Co-Founder Thomas Rhodes to revisit Thomas’s op-ed Honoring Work — a heartfelt call to restore respect and dignity to every kind of job.

Together, they explore how our culture’s relationship with work has shifted, why certain career paths remain undervalued, and what it means for schools preparing the next generation of workers. From family lessons about gratitude to today’s workforce challenges, this conversation connects the past and present in a powerful way.

Whether you’re an educator, employer, or parent, you’ll walk away with a renewed appreciation for the importance of honoring all forms of work — and actionable ideas for helping students see every career as worthy of pride and purpose.

Presented by Rhodes Branding, where we help schools and organizations tell their story and drive the future of education forward.

Many schools treat summer like the off-season. Parents don’t.

In this conversation, Dan Wyar (President of Rhodes Branding) and Ginny Kowalski (VP of Operations) share two very different enrollment journeys Ginny experienced as a parent this past summer. One school went quiet after enrollment. The other stayed connected with intentional touchpoints that built trust and confidence.

The lessons are clear: summer is a critical stage of the enrollment journey. Every message, or every silence, shapes how families feel about your school.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why silence creates friction for parents

• How consistent, intentional communication builds trust

• What K-12 schools can learn from higher ed’s “yield phase”

• Practical ways to engage families between enrollment and the first day of school

If you’re a district or school leader looking to improve enrollment and parent satisfaction, this conversation will help you see summer in a new light.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) is about providing hands-on, real-world learning opportunities to students as they explore their passions to find their purpose. The Rhodes Branding team was thrilled to do just that by partnering with the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) to mentor high school students in San Antonio, Texas, on a hands-on video production project for ACTE’s Coalition for Workforce Development Summit.

Hear from two talented students how professional mentorship has helped shape their learning experience, the impact CTE has on their future goals, and what they’d tell their peers considering CTE.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) is transforming the future of education and workforce development. In this special CTE Month edition of Productive Disruption, host Dan Wyar sits down with three dynamic CTE leaders from across the country:

•  Chris Brida, Director of CTE & Advanced Coursework, Portland Public Schools (OR)
•  Leon Burgess, Director of Secondary Education, College & Career Readiness/CTE, Florence School District 3 (SC)
•  Melony Ritter, CTE Director, Cabarrus County Schools (NC)

Together, they discuss the power of business and industry partnerships in shaping student success, how to advocate for CTE from the district to state policy level, breaking the outdated “Vo-Tech” stereotype, and more!

In honor of Careers in Construction Month, we invited a Construction Technology Instructor and the Director of Career & Technical Education from Austin Independent School District to share how the construction pathway in the eighth-largest school district in Texas prepares students for successful careers in a lucrative industry. They cover how project-based courses through the pathway provide personal and professional growth and leadership opportunities for students, earned certifications position Austin ISD students ahead of their peers, and internships and mentorships convert to interviews and jobs.

Careers in Construction Month is an annual campaign by the National Center Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and the Build Your Future organization to increase public awareness of construction careers and inspire the next generation of craft professionals. To l learn more, visit https://www.byf.org/careers-in-construction-month/#.

Connect with Austin ISD’s Director of Career & Technical Education,Tammy Caesar, on LinkedIn and on Twitter (X) check out @caesar2656. Follow Austin ISD’s Career & Technical Education on Twitter (X) at @AISD_CTE.

On this episode of Productive Disruption, we sit down with Channing Jones of Minneapolis Public Schools and Dr. Shelley Neilsen Gatti from the University of St. Thomas to explore the MPS + St. Thomas Teacher Residency – an innovative partnership that’s cultivating homegrown talent, increasing diversity among educators, and creating a sustainable, supportive pathway to teaching. Discover how this residency model is breaking down barriers, filling the teacher pipeline with diverse and qualified educators, and strengthening the workforce in Minneapolis.