Episode 50: Rethinking High School—Career, Community, & Learner Agency (with Dr. Jason Van Heukelum)

In this episode, Dr. Katie Martin talks with Dr. Jason Van Heukelum about redesigning success in public education and creating learning environments that honor student agency, purpose, and real-world relevance. Jason shares stories from his own journey—from teaching math to leading district-wide innovation—and reflects on how schools can move beyond compliance-driven models toward experiences that truly prepare learners for life beyond graduation. Together, they explore career-connected learning, community-centered design, and what it takes to build systems that work for all learners, not just some.