Disrupt Education Podcast

What if CTE stopped just filling jobs and started building future leaders and communities?

In this episode of the Disrupt Education Podcast, hosts Alli Dahl and Peter Hostrawser sit down with Kristy Volesky and Jeff Frost to dig into their new book, CTE Reimagined: The Blueprint for Education’s Future. This isn’t another “how to run a program” manual—it’s a salty, honest challenge to the status quo of compliance, checkboxes, and...

This is it — the wrap-up to a series that’s genuinely changed how we think about readiness, purpose, and the future of learning.

In this powerful finale, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl pull together everything uncovered across six episodes: the exposure gap, the purpose gap, the human connection behind career discovery, and how aptitudes—not guesswork—can reshape an entire education system.

This episode is a dedication—to every stude...

What happens when you see your future unfold — live, in real time?

In this immersive episode of the Disrupt Education x YouScience series, hosts Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl pull back the curtain for the first-ever live aptitude and career discovery walkthrough with Jason Van Nus and returning guest Abby Caudill. Abby—whose first episode sparked this entire series—joins to explore her real YouScience results on camera.

This isn’t t...

Innovation in education doesn’t stop with a platform — it evolves through integration, purpose, and human connection.

In this forward-looking episode of the Disrupt Education x YouScience series, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl sit down with Edson Barton, CEO and Founder of YouScience, to explore what’s next for education technology — from AI-driven career tools to human-centered workforce coaching.

Edson’s journey from a disengaged s...

In part three of our Disrupt Education x YouScience series, we move from “here’s the problem” and “here’s the system” to “here’s the proof.”

Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl sit down with leaders using YouScience at scale — including voices from the Montgomery County ESC in Ohio — to show what happens when aptitude data actually gets used in classrooms, counseling offices, and community workforce pipelines.

This episode is about th...

Are we preparing students for life or just preparing them to pass? In this second episode of the Disrupt Education x YouScience series, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dah team up again with Talent Pipeline Specialist Jason Van Nus to uncover how schools and industry can finally work together to build purpose-driven education that actually leads somewhere. What’s Inside:

- Why 77% of students say they would’ve been more engaged if they un...

We tell students to “pick a path” — but what if they’ve never seen what’s possible?

In this kickoff episode of the Disrupt Education x YouScience series, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl dive into the exposure gap — the growing disconnect between student potential and the opportunities they even know exist. Joined by Talent Pipeline Specialist Jason Van Nus, they unpack why awareness, not test scores, is the first step toward true...

When the “honeymoon” ends and learning gets real, the old playbook crumbles. In this wrap-up of our Fall series, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl break down what actually works—from state-level lab schools to district academy models, regional coaching, and community translators who turn contained learning into community vitality.We highlight:- Kristy Volesky (EduVitality): Make learning visible, local, and tied to economic developmen...

Sometimes disruption isn’t about big programs or sweeping reforms—it’s about moments. In this Disrupt Education episode, Peter and Alli reflect on their powerful conversation with Dr. Karen Baptiste (Preschool to Prison documentary) and unpack why teacher efficacy and collective efficacy are the true game-changers for students.From a little girl inspired by a female skydiver, to educators choosing joy in October’s “doldrums,” this ...

What turns a school into a pipeline—or a community? Dr. Karen “Dr. K” Baptiste (producer/director of the Emmy-nominated Preschool to Prison) joins Disrupt Education to unpack the mindsets, policies, and daily practices that quietly push students—especially students of color and students with disabilities—toward exclusion. We get specific: why “parental involvement” isn’t the silver bullet, how teacher collective efficacy changes ou...

Passionate district leaders change everything. In this Jeff Stenroos debrief, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl unpack why Beloit’s academy model works—and how admin who build (not just talk) create talent pipelines with community, industry, and teachers fully aligned.We dig into:The power of vertical alignment (district → building → classroom → community)Why placing the right people in the right seats accelerates changeHow big-name e...

What happens when a district actually builds career pathways students can feel? In this episode, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl sit down with Jeff Stenroos (Director of Secondary Ed, School District of Beloit, WI) to unpack a builder’s blueprint: Ford NGL-aligned academies, freshman seminar + mock interviews, tight industry partnerships, and a K–12 pipeline that makes work-based learning real.Jeff shares how Beloit:- collapsed 45+ ...

What happens when you stop following the playbook and start creating your own?

In this episode, Peter Hostrawser & Alli Dahl build on last week’s conversation with Scott Carr (Ep. 400) and dive into what it really takes to scale classroom innovation into full system change. Using football field analogies, real classroom stories, and community connections, they explore how to move from small experiments to lasting cultural transf...

What happens when students stop buying what school is selling?
In this milestone episode, we sit down with Scott Carr (CESA 2, WI) to explore how schools can move from “best practice” to next practice—building systems that prioritize purpose, durable skills, and authentic community partnerships.

Scott shares his journey from a disengaged student to a leader in education transformation, offering a framework for re-visioning, reorg...

How do you truly disrupt education—not just tweak it? In this episode, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl dive deep into their conversation with Dr. Gary Skeen, who’s leading a bold education transformation in Virginia. From statewide flexibility for schools to reimagining teacher preparation and building 193+ workforce partnerships, Gary’s model proves change is possible at scale. Hear powerful stories of students discovering their ca...

In this episode of the Disrupt Education Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Gary Skeen, Associate Director of the ODU Center for Educational Innovation and Opportunity. He’s leading the charge in Virginia’s College Partnership Lab School Network—a statewide movement that’s actually transforming public education by designing what he calls “next practices.”We dig deep into how Virginia is building a full K–12-to-career ecosystem that conn...

In this episode, Peter and Alli reflect on the powerful insights shared by Kristy Volesky in last week’s Disrupt Education conversation. We break down the most impactful takeaways—from rethinking the role of schools in community growth to why true transformation can’t happen without bold local partnerships. This isn’t about checking boxes or chasing test scores—it’s about designing learning experiences that align with students’ liv...

Kristy Volesky returns to the Disrupt Education Podcast to drop powerful insights on how education and community development must evolve together. Kristy unpacks her newest initiative, Edu Vitality, and why strategic collaboration—not checkbox programs—is the key to sustainable learning and local economic growth. We talk about empowering students through real-world projects, placemaking, entrepreneurship, and breaking seat-time nor...

In this powerful episode, Peter and Alli reflect on lessons from Derrick Griffin (DG Sax), diving into the themes of lifelong learning, embracing chaos, mentorship, and finding alignment with your values. From skydiving to music to building intentional communities, they explore how personal growth is a journey—not a destination. Learn why documenting your path, surrounding yourself with growth-minded people, and allowing space to e...