Sterling Roberson

Sterling Roberson is the Former United Federation of Teachers Vice President for Career and Technical Education (CTE).

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

CTE graduates may have the skills and credentials but still face licensing exams, supervised hours, and fees before entering their careers.

Are we preparing students for the full journey?

My latest Substack column:
https://t.co/ysO47rIYQo
#CTE #WorkforceDevelopment

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Declining employment doesn't always mean declining opportunity. Retirements and career changes still create openings. CTE funding decisions should consider replacement demand, wages, and realistic entry pathways.

Full column + sources: https://t.co/wPVjfbe1No

#CTE

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

CTE is expanding pre-apprenticeship. But are opportunities at the other end expanding too?

We should measure more than enrollment and completion. We should measure transition capacity: whether students can actually move into apprenticeship, employment, or further education.

https://t.co/61i8R75vFq

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Industry credentials now influence CTE funding, accountability, graduation pathways and workforce policy.

So who is accountable when a private credential becomes part of public policy?

My latest column examines the governance question behind credential growth.

https://t.co/avb9qUHEXP

#CTE #EducationPolicy

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Industry credentials can open doors for CTE students. But when those credentials begin shaping public funding, graduation pathways, accountability, and workforce policy, the stakes change.

My latest column asks:

When a private credential becomes public CTE policy, who is accountable?

The issue is not whether industry credentials belong in CTE. They do. The question is whether states have the governance, data, transparency, and safeguards needed as those credentials take on a larger public role.

Read more: https://t.co/avb9qUHEXP

#CareerTechnicalEducation #CTE #CareerReadiness #EducationPolicy #WorkforceDevelopment #IndustryCredentials

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

CTE is growing. But are we building enough capacity to meet the demand?
Enrollment tells us who got in. It doesn’t always tell us who wanted a CTE opportunity but couldn’t access one.
My latest column looks at why that matters for the next phase of CTE growth.
https://t.co/qnl96lWc6P
#CTE

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

A 5% cap limits how much CTE Perkins funding can be spent on administration. It doesn’t necessarily limit the administrative work required.

My latest column asks: What does it really cost to administer CTE well?

https://t.co/yny3ILxPR0

#CTE #PerkinsV

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

When every diploma becomes “career ready,” what distinguishes career exposure from rigorous CTE?

Career readiness should be universal, but it should not erase differences in depth, preparation, credentials, and outcomes.

My latest Substack column:
https://t.co/OldTCxCMz1

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

AI may not be CTE’s greatest challenge. Governance lag may be the bigger risk.

My latest article examines whether CTE systems can update curriculum, credentials, funding, educator support, and accountability quickly enough to keep pace with workforce change.

https://t.co/Kvm2sKF5ez

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Healthcare needs workers. CTE has students.

But the missing link is clinical placement.

If students cannot access supervised clinical experience, the pathway weakens where it matters most.

Full article: https://t.co/6xOJRjrIbk

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

CTE opens doors, but students still need a way to get there.
Transportation, scheduling, and regional access are not side issues. They are part of the CTE infrastructure.
A pathway is not fully open if students cannot reach it.
Read more: https://t.co/cF5gJ6t3KD

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

CTE has proven its value. Now it must define how that value is measured.

ROI should include more than wages. It should include transition quality, career momentum, employment alignment, credential value, and long-term mobility.

Read more: https://t.co/px3dgrpyWt

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Check out my latest article: From Pathways to Paychecks: The Next Phase of CTE Leadership https://t.co/THU4Py1Bi3 via @LinkedIn

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Check out my latest article: The CTE Story Hidden in State Plans: Why Most Pathways Fail Before Students Ever Start https://t.co/7eBAzoWwJO via @LinkedIn

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

CTE is entering a new era.

More pathways, more enrollments, and more credentials matter, but outcomes matter more.

Did the program lead to a real job, stronger earnings, or a meaningful next step?

New column: https://t.co/6qsjNXXLzd

#CTE #WorkforceDevelopment #EducationPolicy

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Check out my latest article: The Center of Gravity Is Moving: Workforce Pell and the New Career and Technical Education Incentives https://t.co/4yxaXN3fEu via @LinkedIn

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Check out my latest article: Perkins Isn’t the Money in CTE. State Funding Is. And That’s Where the Real Gap Is. https://t.co/dvZeywOgI5 via @LinkedIn

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

@tsi_org This is awesome!

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

When industry alignment scales in CTE, governance must scale too.

A credential approval vote can now shape:
– Graduation pathways
– Accountability dashboards
– Performance funding
– Enrollment momentum
That’s structural power.
Checkout Substack column: https://t.co/NhwLOyi3Us

[Sterling Roberson @CTEVP]

Why States Must Have a Credential Value Audit Standard in Career and Technical Education
Click the link: https://t.co/Mm59IUqNKc
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