Rethinking Academic Pathways to Drive Real-World Readiness ft. Dr. TJ Vari | Lessons Learned | Ep 9

Lessons Learned

How can we align K–12 pathways with real economic opportunity?

“The definition of leadership is influence. The challenge of leadership is conflict. The result of leadership is change. And when there's a lot of change, we're gonna experience a lot of conflict, and that's going to require stronger leadership.” -Dr. TJ Vari

In this episode of Lessons Learned, host Matt sits down with Dr. TJ Vari, Senior Director of Product Strategy at MaiaLearning, to explore how schools can design college and career pathways that truly prepare students for life after graduation—starting as early as kindergarten.

Drawing on his experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and now product strategist, Dr. Vari shares how early career awareness, work-based learning, and tighter alignment with local industry can drive more meaningful outcomes for students. From simplifying graduation requirements to building intentional post-secondary plans, he outlines a vision for pathways that are both rigorous and relevant.

Together, we explore key topics such as:

• Why reducing the number of academic pathways can increase clarity and impact
• What career exploration looks like at the elementary, middle, and high school levels
• How a “portrait of a graduate” can guide school and district-wide decision-making
• The role of industry partnerships in creating high-value learning experiences
• How to use data to align educational offerings with workforce needs

Whether you’re a district administrator, counselor, or CTE leader, this episode offers practical insights for designing systems that support student success—both in the classroom and beyond.

Connect with our guest:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-t-j-vari/
• Website: https://www.maialearning.com/

Ways to tune in:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4bzi3DLY1fCuBknsxWySw6
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lessons-learned/id1714296987
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c715776e-3d77-4a8b-806b-207e01b861af
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@betterlesson4313