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Ever wondered why the business world keeps lamenting graduates' lack of "soft skills"? The answer might lie in how disconnected our educational practices have become from the real-world demands facing our students.
Scott Oste, Curriculum Supervisor at Northampton Area School District, brings a refreshing perspective to this challenge. Having left teaching to work in corporate America before returning to education, Oste has crafted an approach that intentionally breaks down the walls between classrooms and industry. "Do we truly know what's expected of kids? Do we truly know what colleges even want of kids?" These questions drive his work creating meaningful partnerships with businesses across manufacturing, healthcare, biomedical fields, and beyond.
What makes Northampton's approach powerful is how they've aligned these partnerships with their district's "Profile of a Graduate" framework. Rather than treating industry connections as an add-on, they've integrated them into their core educational mission. The result? Teachers have better buy-in, students gain exposure to careers they never knew existed, and the district stays responsive to rapidly changing workforce needs.
Whether you're a classroom teacher seeking to make learning more relevant, an administrator looking to build community partnerships, or someone passionate about preparing students for an unpredictable future, this conversation offers practical insights for breaking out of educational silos and embracing a more connected approach to learning.

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