Kevin Fleming Workshop For Educators Reframes Successful Balance of Education and Skills Acquisition

Publish Date: Feb. 28, 2023

On February 28, over 100 teachers, counselors, and administrators from Redlands Unified School District, Colton- Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program, Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District, and Crafton Hill College partnered to bring bestselling author Dr. Kevin Fleming to present a workshop entitled (Re)Defining the Goal: The True Path to Career Readiness in the 21st Century. During the morning workshop held at CHC, Fleming focused on the misalignment between degrees and job skills and the perception that higher earnings are based on college degree attainment levels that have been embedded in our society for decades.

Fleming’s inspiring presentation challenged attendees to reframe the push for all high school graduates to go to college and introduced a new paradigm with tangible action steps for young adults to explore career and technical education that will help them gain a competitive advantage for well paying jobs.

“Technical skills are the new currency in the 21st century,” Fleming stated, going on to explain that a balance is needed to prepare students for both higher education and the workforce simultaneously.

Fleming explained that students will only become career ready if they begin to explore career choices early, make informed decisions when declaring their college educational goals, and consider technical skill acquisition and real-world application in tandem with general education.

Fleming’s message was clear: “Community colleges are in the ideal position to provide an education combined with applied technical training, industry driven credentials, and specific preparation for employment.”