In this episode of The Education Blueprint, Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk talks with Betsy Wills, co-founder of YouScience—a career and education assessment that helps students and adults discover their natural talents, interests, and potential career matches. Their conversation explores the power of aptitude testing and how understanding students’ strengths can guide education choices, career exploration, and long-term success.
- 00:00 Introduction to Aptitude Testing
- 04:55 The History and Evolution of Aptitude Assessments
- 10:06 Understanding Aptitudes vs. Interests
- 15:00 The Importance of Early Exposure to Career Paths
- 19:57 The Role of Aptitude Testing in Education
- 24:58 Personal Experiences with Aptitude Testing
- 30:09 The Broader Implications of Aptitude Awareness
- 30:09 Implementing Youth Science in Education
- 32:05 Transforming High School Experiences
- 34:52 Connecting Aptitude with Career Choices
- 37:40 The Importance of Early Aptitude Assessment
- 39:12 Bringing Passion to Work
- 41:10 The Role of Hobbies in Life Satisfaction
- 43:16 Identifying and Cultivating Aptitudes
- 46:35 Key Takeaways and Future Directions
Dr. Jon Rysewyk brings nearly 30 years of educational experience to his role as Superintendent of Knox County Schools. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee, followed by a Doctorate of Education from East Tennessee State University. Dr. Rysewyk began his career as a science teacher at Bearden High School and later became principal of Fulton High School during its State of Tennessee reconstitution. He also served the district as Supervisor of Secondary Education, Executive Director of Innovation and School Improvement, Assistant Superintendent, and Chief Academic Officer prior to being appointed Superintendent in 2022.
Betsy Wills, co-founder of YouScience brings more than 20 years of experience in development and marketing across financial services, universities, health care, and education technology. She’s a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor’s in English and Fine Arts, and she earned a Master’s in Education from Peabody College, focusing on Human Resources Development.
Betsy is also a regular guest lecturer at Vanderbilt and NYU’s Stern School of Business, and she’s been a featured speaker at TEDx Women. She co-wrote the book Your Hidden Genius, which helps readers uncover their natural talents, interests, and personality traits to find career success and personal fulfillment.
Key Takeaways:
The importance of aptitudes
How aptitudes can shape your career path
Links & Resources:
Questions or show ideas? Email TheEducationBlueprint@knoxschools.org.
Learn more about Knox County Schools at KnoxSchools.org.
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