Welcome to The Leadership Lens, where we look beyond today's classrooms to build tomorrow's leaders. I'm your host, Tyler Mitchell. I teach Physical Education at Decatur Middle School in Decatur, Alabama, and I'm currently pursuing my Master's degree in Instructional Leadership through the University of West Alabama.

Today's episode focuses on a critical issue facing schools across Alabama: preparing students for successful careers after graduation. While college remains an important pathway, today's students also need career awareness, technical skills, industry credentials, and opportunities to connect classroom learning to real-world careers.

Joining me today is Houston Blackwood. Houston has served as a high school teacher, worked at Calhoun Community College, and now serves as the Workforce Director for the Alabama Community College System. His career has given him a unique perspective on workforce development and how K–12 schools can better prepare students for success after graduation. Houston, thank you for being here.