In the News

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Rebecca Midles sits down with Dr. Bill Nicely, Educator in Residence at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, to explore how cross-state, cross-sector collaboration in Kansas City is transforming education. They discuss the Real World Learning Initiative, the importance of market value assets for students, and how partnerships between urban, suburban, and rural districts are creating equitable opportunities. Tune in to learn how this innovative approach is preparing students for the future of work and fostering systemic change in education.

Food waste is a serious issue facing our country that not everyone may be familiar with. According to the USDA, roughly 30-40% of the national food supply is wasted annually, which equates to nearly 133 billion pounds of food with a value of $161 billion. Yet in 2023, over 18 million households experienced food insecurity.

Back to school looks a bit different for high school students enrolled in the Williamson County Schools Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC). Opened in 2019, the EIC has a state-of-the-art facility with a podcast room, fabrication lab, meeting rooms, and an incubator-style environment and it offers a chance for students to grow in a nontraditional way, to experience real-world business situations. In the EIC, students gain real-world experience in entrepreneurship and innovation by crafting business plans, conducting market research, launching products or services and pitching for funding. Enrollment is determined through an application process that includes short answer questions, teacher recommendations, and an interview. The one common thread among all of the students of the EIC is that the students should have a drive or interest in offering a service, developing a product, starting a business, being an entrepreneur, or thinking outside of the box. 

Entrepreneurship thrives on ideas, innovation, problem-solving and, sometimes, getting the right ideas in front of the right people.

A team of student entrepreneurs from Naperville, IL, striving to make traveling easier, was among the finalists in a national competition.

A team of Naperville-area teen entrepreneurs who created a business designed to make travel smoother will compete this coming week as one of five national finalists in the INCubatoredu National Pitch competition in Chicago.

Teagan O’Carroll, 18, has worked for two years as a coordinator at the James Anthony Salon in Oak Park. During that time she has trained a few new employees.

At the annual Butler Tech Entrepreneur Fair, students don’t just display products, they pitch passion, purpose, and impact. This year, Dan Bates, President & CEO of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, responded by announcing during the Entrepreneur Celebration Luncheon that every student entrepreneur who participated would be gifted a one-year membership to the Chamber.

The ISTE+ASCD Transformational Learning Principles are a set of evidence-based practices that highlight the most essential elements of effective learning. Organized in three categories—Nurture, Empower and Guide—the Principles are aligned with Getting Smart Design Principles (accessible, personalized, purposeful, joyful, authentic, challenging) and present a fresh, whole-child and design framework. 

As the demands of the workforce evolve, so too must the ways we prepare learners. Today’s careers are increasingly complex, multidimensional, and interdisciplinary; however, our pathways remain static and siloed. The future of work will be unlikely combinations of skills and sectors. For example, a student in a construction pathway may participate in projects that combine their passion for environmental science and graphic design along with their construction courses. Success in this dynamic landscape requires a robust foundation of adaptable skills, a lifelong learning mindset, and technical expertise that spans traditional career pathways.