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How CTE Really Works for Students ft. Dr. Joey Mendoza | My EdTech Life 344

CTE is changing fast. Certifications, digital skills, pathways, tutoring, attendance, career pipelines—there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Joey Mendoza, a South Texas educator and freshly-minted doctoral researcher who has worked across classrooms, regional service centers, EdTech companies, and now the CTE space with YaizY.

We unpack what CTE really looks like today: what works, what doesn’t, where students get stuck, and why attendance—yes, attendance—may matter more than tutoring when it comes to math achievement. We also break down how digital-first CTE programs can help students earn real certifications that actually translate into job-ready skills.
Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome And Sponsor Shoutouts
1:16 Introducing Dr. Joey Mendoza
2:50 From Classroom To Edtech And STEM
5:20 Hands‑On STEM And Student Impact
8:05 Entering CTE: Digital Skills And Pathways
11:07 Digital Nomads And Remote Work Futures
13:18 Certifications And Early Pathway Access
16:20 Myths And Mindsets About CTE
19:10 Funding, Access, And Stacking Credentials
22:00 How YaizY Works From Grade 4 Up
24:20 Barriers To Strong CTE Programs
28:10 Culture, Data, And ROI In CTE
31:10 Why Districts Must Lead With Industry
32:32 Dissertation Setup: Tutoring And STAR Math
34:30 Key Finding: Attendance Outweighs Tutoring
37:10 Rethinking Tutoring, Fidelity, And Alignment
39:40 Attendance Realities And Family Factors
42:00 Next Steps For After‑School Effectiveness
44:00 Closing Thoughts And Rapid‑Fire Questions
47:10 Thank Yous, Links, And Sign‑Off

Sponsors
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Thank you, EduAide, Yellowdig, and Peel Back Education for supporting these conversations.

Peel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today.

Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.

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Chapters

1. Welcome And Sponsor Shoutouts (00:00:00)

2. Introducing Dr. Joey Mendoza (00:01:16)

3. From Classroom To Edtech And STEM (00:02:50)

4. Hands‑On STEM And Student Impact (00:05:20)

5. Entering CTE: Digital Skills And Pathways (00:08:05)

6. Digital Nomads And Remote Work Futures (00:11:07)

7. Certifications And Early Pathway Access (00:13:18)

8. Myths And Mindsets About CTE (00:16:57)

9. Funding, Access, And Stacking Credentials (00:19:47)

10. How YeAZ Works From Grade 4 Up (00:22:37)

11. Barriers To Strong CTE Programs (00:24:57)

12. Culture, Data, And ROI In CTE (00:28:47)

13. Why Districts Must Lead With Industry (00:32:39)

14. Dissertation Setup: Tutoring And STAR Math (00:34:01)

15. Key Finding: Attendance Outweighs Tutoring (00:35:59)

16. Rethinking Tutoring, Fidelity, And Alignment (00:38:39)

17. Attendance Realities And Family Factors (00:41:09)

18. Next Steps For After‑School Effectiveness (00:43:29)

19. Closing Thoughts And Rapid‑Fire Questions (00:45:29)

20. Thank Yous, Links, And Sign‑Off (00:48:39)

347 episodes