Welcome back for another month of PBL Ă— CTE learning! As fall settles in and programs hit their stride, our network conversations keep coming back to one big question:
What separates CTE programs that simply run from the ones that truly transform students?
This month's update brings you a conversation that tackles that question head on, a practical planning tool from the Resource Library, and a new way to explore what PBL could look like across your CTE programs.
Here's what's new this month.
Episode 6 is Here! Catch the Latest PBL Network Podcast Release
What Great CTE Programs Do Differently
Featuring Dr. Donna Stewart-Lewis, CTE Leader and Founder of Ethos Academies
The newest episode of the PBL Network Podcast: PBL Ă— CTE Limited Series features Dr. Donna Stewart-Lewis, a seasoned CTE teacher, coach, administrator, and founder of Ethos Academies. Her path from higher education to the K-12 classroom and into district leadership has centered on career-connected learning and on helping teachers bring Project Based Learning to life. In our conversation, she makes the case that CTE is already interdisciplinary and authentic by nature, and that PBL amplifies both.
Dr. Stewart-Lewis shares how CTE and academic teachers can build projects together, including the story of a world languages teacher and a game design teacher who created an app for newcomer students. She explains why work-based learning should be a continuum that starts well before 9th grade, why students need repeated practice with professional skills instead of a single mock interview, and why ongoing, job-embedded professional development makes authentic project planning possible. For CTE leaders, her advice is simple and powerful: talk to students and teachers first, anticipate where a plan might break down, and build buy-in instead of issuing top-down mandates.
"Talk to kids. Talk to teachers before you do anything...because they're the drivers of this work."
- Dr. Donna Stewart-Lewis
For the full episode breakdown, key takeaways, and resources, explore the complete show notes here:
Check out the Episode 6 Show Notes Here
Check Out the PBL x CTE Network Resource Library!
A Growing Hub for FREE Co-Created, CTE-Aligned PBL Tools You Can Use In Your Programs & Classrooms Today.
The PBL Ă— CTE Network Resource Library keeps growing, shaped directly by the conversations, challenges, and bright spots emerging across our network. Every resource is free, practitioner-focused, and designed to strengthen the connection between Project Based Learning and career-connected pathways.
Resource Library Spotlight
This month, we're highlighting the CTE Partner Experience Planner, a free structured planning guide that helps CTE instructors design meaningful, career-connected partner experiences before, during, and after industry engagement. It walks you through clarifying student roles, strengthening communication with your industry partners, and making sure every interaction leads to authentic evidence of learning and deeper, pathway-aligned reflection.
It pairs perfectly with this month's episode. Dr. Stewart-Lewis reminded us that a single mock interview or field trip can't carry all of students' professional skill-building. The Planner helps you turn each partner visit, site tour, or project consultation into one more intentional step on that work-based learning continuum. Looking for a quick-reference version? Grab the companion CTE Partner Experience Planning Checklist in the Resource Library too.
Download the CTE Partner Experience Planner
If you haven't explored the Resource Library yet, or you're ready to see what's new, now's the perfect time to dive in and download tools that support your work.
Check out the PBL x CTE Network Resource Library
Bring Project Based Learning to Your CTE Programs
Download Our Free PBL in CTE Webinar
Conversations like this month's episode often spark the same next question: what would it look like to bring high-quality PBL to every pathway in our district? Our PBL in CTE Webinar is a great place to start. It walks through how Project Based Learning connects technical skills, academic content, and authentic industry experiences, and what it takes to make that work sustainable across your CTE programs.
When you're ready to go further, Magnify Learning partners with districts and schools to bring PBL best practices and professional development directly to CTE teams. We start by learning your programs, goals, and context, then design hands-on workshops where your instructors experience PBL for themselves, followed by year-round coaching that helps the work take root and last.
Download the PBL in CTE Webinar
Want to talk through what a partnership could look like for your programs?
Email Us at: magnify@magnifypbl.com.
Interested in Sharing Your CTE Voice?
One of the most powerful parts of our PBL Ă— CTE Network is the collective expertise of the educators, directors, and industry partners who live this work every day. If you're interested in contributing your voice, there are two meaningful ways to get involved.
1) Be a Guest on the PBL Network Podcast
Join me as a guest on the PBL Network Podcast, where we dig into candid conversation about your unique role in the CTE landscape, the realities you're navigating, and the ways PBL experiences intersect with your pathway. To learn more, email me at ashley@magnifypbl.com.
2) Become a Leading Voice at One of Our PBL x CTE Network Live Roundtable Discussions
Our Live Roundtable Discussions bring CTE instructors, directors, and partners together to unpack shared challenges and co-design solutions. We're still gathering leading voices for our upcoming Roundtable: AI Pressures & Possibilities in CTE. If you have experience, questions, or perspectives in this space, we'd love to hear from you.
Sign Up to be a Leading Voice for the AI Roundtable
Did You Miss One of Our Roundtables?
Full recordings of our live network discussions, along with resources and transcripts, are available in the PBL X CTE Network Event Replay Hub.
Access the Network Event Replay Hub Here
Also Worth Knowing...
Not yet in the PBL x CTE Network LinkedIn Group? That's where I share episode drops, noteworthy insights from network members, event announcements, and other content between newsletters. Come join the conversation.
Join the PBL x CTE Network LinkedIn Group
You're receiving this because you're a member of Magnify Learning's PBL x CTE Network. Questions or thoughts? Just reply to this email. We read every one.
-Ashley Curtin
Responses