Our guests for this episode of College & Career Readiness Radio are Dr. Steve Regur and Ed Hidalgo from connectthework.com.

Ed Hidalgo emphasizes the importance of giving students agency in their academic and career planning, focusing on self-discovery and personal strengths.

Steve Regur discusses strategies for fostering student empowerment, including the use of personalized learning plans and reflective activities.

Both guests highlight ways that schools can use career frameworks and tools to help students connect learning to future opportunities.

Ed notes the value of career exploration starting in elementary and middle school, not just high school, to build awareness and readiness early.

Steve shares how engaging families and community partners increases student motivation and ensures relevance in career readiness programs.

They underscore the need for teaching students practical skills for navigating career pathways, such as networking, informational interviewing, and tracking progress.

Ed and Steve both advise educators to provide students with multiple pathways, including technical, community college, and four-year university options.

They stress that continuous feedback, goal-setting, and self-reflection are key elements for students to remain engaged and confident about their future plans.

The guests share real-life examples of students discovering strengths and interests through structured curriculum, assessment tools, and mentorship.

Closing advice centers on cultivating student curiosity, encouraging student voice, and building strong school-to-career connections to prepare learners for purposeful futures.

If you want to see a tool that can help teachers facilitate all of what Ed and Steve talk about on the show, book a demo now.

If you want to discuss college and career readiness with the host, book time here.