Recently, I had the privilege of representing Jobs for America’s Graduates at the FullScale Symposium in New Orleans, a gathering that brought together some of the most committed, inventive, and future-focused minds in education. It was one of those rare events where the energy in the room wasn’t about buzzwords or big promises; it was about what is actually working right now in real classrooms and real communities.
From the moment I arrived, I felt the power of connection, a theme that runs very close to my heart and my work at JAG. I reconnected with colleagues who have been part of JAG’s evolution for years, including our friends at Headrush, whose partnership has helped us strengthen our learning ecosystems and elevate Specialist and student work in ways we once only imagined. I also had the chance to build new relationships with brilliant thinkers, such as Antonia Rudenstine, Founder and Executive Director of reDesign, who is shaping some of the most courageous and forward-looking conversations happening in education today.
One of the highlights of my time in New Orleans was participating in a panel moderated by Antonia titled: “If ‘future of work’ feels vague, try this: what would it take for every graduate to leave with evidence of real-world skills?” This question sits at the center of the work JAG does every day. We know that readiness cannot be reduced to a test score or a single pathway. Students need portfolios, experiences, and authentic demonstrations of who they are and what they can do.
Sitting alongside leaders from these initiatives and alongside colleagues from as far as New Zealand was energizing. It reminded me that the movement toward authentic, competency-based, human-centered learning is not isolated. It is growing, and JAG has a vital role to play in that growth.
Throughout the symposium, I appreciated how closely the conversations aligned with the core of the JAG Advantage: project-based learning, employer engagement, and trauma-informed care. These are not accessories to the curriculum; they are the curriculum when we design with purpose. Every district, school, and organization represented at FullScale was wrestling with the same questions we are: How do we help students build real skills? How do we ensure they can demonstrate those skills? How do we create pathways that are flexible, meaningful, and deeply connected to the community?
My biggest takeaway from New Orleans is this: the future of work is not a distant policy horizon. It is being built right now, one portfolio, one partnership, one authentic learning experience at a time. And the more we share what is working, the faster we can build systems where every young person leaves school with evidence of their strengths and a vision for their future.
I left the symposium grateful for the collaboration, the candor, and the growing community of educators who are willing to rethink what education can be. Being surrounded by leaders who are actively shaping the intersection of learning, opportunity, and human potential reminded me of how truly aligned our missions are.
And the best news is that we do not have to wait long to continue this conversation.
The next major gathering where education, workforce development, and policy converge is our upcoming EDGE Conference. EDGE is designed for practitioners and leaders who refuse to work in silos, who understand that preparing young people for the future requires alignment across schools, employers, community partners, and systems. It embodies the same candor, collaboration, and forward-thinking spirit I experienced at FullScale, but with an even sharper focus on building pathways that work for all young people.
If FullScale was a spark, EDGE will be the flame, a chance for this growing community of innovators to come together, challenge assumptions, and design what comes next.
I am already looking forward to continuing these conversations there and carrying this momentum forward with everyone committed to this mission.