How do you prepare students for jobs that don't even exist yet? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with McLain Schaefer, Director of LIFT (Leaders Innovating for Tomorrow), a groundbreaking regional innovation and technology center in central Illinois that's redefining what Career and Technical Education can be.

McLain shares his journey from elementary principal to leading one of the most innovative CTE programs in the country. In this conversation, McLain unpacks how he completely redesigned their CTE program with LIFT, and how building future leaders has been at the centerpiece of his success with students. Whether you're an educator, business leader, or parent, this episode will challenge your thinking about what education can be when we stop putting students in boxes and start preparing them to lead in whatever field they choose. McLain's approach proves that when you combine world-class leadership development with career-ready programming, you don't just create graduates—you create leaders who are ready to change their communities.

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If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Host: Dustin Odham, Managing Director at Franklin Covey Education

Guests: McLain Shaefer (LIFT Director)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 2:56) Intro

(2:57 - 3:49) What McLain loves about what he does

(3:50 - 5:44) Leaving the classroom and starting LIFT

(5:45 - 7:52) Traditional CTE or no?

(7:53 - 10:54) Defining modern CTE

(10:55 - 14:27) Evolution of the definition of student success with LIFT

(14:28 - 18:49) How do recruiters define success?

(18:50 - 20:42) Finding the right people

(20:43 - 24:41) What effect has the Leader In Me process had on kids?

(24:42 - 26:52) Paradigm shifts with LIFT

(26:53 - 30:34) How has the new curriculum elevated the existing?

(30:35 - 33:31) McLains vision for growth

(33:32 - 34:38) The people working at and with LIFT

(34:39 - 35:55) Student success story

(35:56 - 36:36) Recommendations for leadership book

(36:37 - 38:09) Song to put McLain in the right “vibe”

(38:10 - 40:15) Advise for a new leader

(40:16 - 41:06) Closing thoughts

(41:07 - 41:52) Outro