In this Learning Can’t Wait episode, Hayley Spira-Bauer speaks with Dr. Mark Covelle, Administrative Director of Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, about why Career & Technical Education (CTE) is not a “second choice,” but a high-impact pathway that expands opportunity for students. Dr. Covell shares how he moved from traditional K–12 into CTE expecting it to be a temporary stop—only to experience a career-defining “epiphany” about what education should do: connect students to their futures. He addresses misconceptions fueled by “college for all” narratives and media stereotypes, argues that “college for all” unintentionally became “trades for none,” and offers a reframing: “All education is career education.” He highlights why students thrive in CTE environments—authentic practice, growth-based assessment, student agency, real-world accountability, and stronger persistence—while urging educators, families, and industry partners to stop treating “college or career” as a binary and instead embrace college and career pathways that open doors.
Learning Can’t Wait