Thanks for coming back for another month of PBL x CTE updates. Our network keeps growing, and so do the conversations that matter. This space is your monthly pulse check — what’s new, what’s emerging, and what’s worth paying attention to across the PBL x CTE landscape.
Let’s dive in together!
The PBL Network Podcast Episode 2 Dropped Last Week!
From Nuclear Power to Space Junk: PBL in Action
Featuring Ronni Morrissey, STEM & Pathway to Engineering Instructor
In this episode of the PBL Network Podcast’s PBL x CTE limited series, we sit down with Ronni Morrissey — a STEM and Pathway to Engineering instructor whose classroom in Southern Maryland has become a hub of curiosity, creativity, and real‑world problem solving. After her first Magnify Learning workshop three years ago, Ronni went all‑in on Project Based Learning, transforming her STEM and CTE courses into immersive, community‑connected learning experiences.
Ronni shares how PBL helped her bring coherence and purpose to the projects she was already running, and how authentic partnerships — from local nuclear engineers to aerospace researchers overseas — have elevated her students’ work and deepened their sense of agency. From redesigning emergency preparedness materials for her community to tackling space‑junk mitigation with international experts, Ronni’s students are doing work that matters.
In this conversation, Ronni opens up about:
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how PBL helped her move from “faking it till I make it” to feeling grounded and energized in her teaching
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the power of student choice and why her learners now push projects further than she ever imagined
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the routines and structures that make PBL sustainable across five preps
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what she wishes more CTE teachers knew about PBL
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why, even as she retires from the classroom, she’s stepping into a new chapter as a PBL facilitator
Ronni’s journey is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when a CTE instructor embraces PBL not as an add‑on, but as the engine for meaningful, future‑ready learning. Her story will resonate with any educator looking to deepen authenticity, build stronger community connections, and help students see themselves as problem solvers who can make a real impact.
Check out the Episode 2 Show Notes Here
Live Network Events
We have live roundtable discussions coming up for the PBL x CTE Network community. These are conversations you don't want to miss — real educators, real challenges, real solutions.
Check PBLnetworks.com for Upcoming Events
Interested in Leading the Conversation?
We are currently gathering interest and seeking leading voices for two LIVE Roundtable Discussions in the coming months: AI Pressures & Possibilities in CTE and Controlling Your Narrative: Sharing Your CTE Story.
Interest Form for AI Roundtable
Interest Form for CTE Story Roundtable
Did you miss out on one of our Spring Roundtables?
Full recordings of our live network discussions — along with resources and transcripts — are available in the Network Replay Library.
Access the Network Event Replay Hub Here
Also Worth Knowing...
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-Ashley Curtin, Director of PBL Networks, Magnify Learning
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