Our guest for this episode of College & Career Readiness Radio is Frank Polen, assistant superintendent and director of adult education at the Buckeye Career Center in Ohio.

Frank explains that Buckeye Career Center is a joint vocational school district and a career technical planning district serving 11 partner schools across three counties. Students can complete academics and career-technical training in one place, and the center also serves open-enrolled, homeschool, and digital academy students.

He highlights Buckeye's flexible pathways for students, including full academics, lab time, credit-plus options, online coursework, and school-to-work opportunities. He emphasizes that students can earn industry credentials, graduate early, work in their field, or continue into more training and college credit.

Frank stresses that CTE and college are not competing ideas. His view is that “training is for everybody,” and that education should be treated as a long-term pathway with multiple on-ramps and off-ramps.

He describes the need for strong articulation between high school, adult programs, and higher education. He points to credit opportunities through certifications and industry credentials that can apply toward associate degrees and beyond.

Frank says that workforce shortages are best addressed through collaboration, not silos. In his region, educators, business leaders, economic developers, legislators, and higher education partners work together through an industry sector partnership and a Civic Lab initiative to solve manufacturing and healthcare labor gaps.

Polen also emphasizes the importance of a dedicated point person, clear goals, and regular meetings to keep problem-solving moving. He says the goal is not just to solve workforce problems, but to dissolve them through long-term, community-based action.

Frank closes with a simple message: “We’re all in this together.” He encourages leaders to connect with one another, build teams, and keep finding ways to say yes for students and communities.

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