Voices of Readiness Podcast

Hosted by Hannah Crepeau

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Episodes

175

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Pearson's Voices of Readiness Podcast is all about educators. This podcast will crack open the world of education and career readiness. At Pearson, we are dedicated to helping people build the life they imagine through learning, and we couldn't do what we do without powerful and dedicated educators, like YOU! Whether you've been teaching for one month, one year, or decades, we have episodes for you. Join us as we interview other educators, students, and industry experts. Discover new ways to teach, connect with fellow educators, and get inspired. Teaching is a career that demands all that you have to give. So we're here to give back to you. Listen. Learn. Grow. Become a part of our community.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 28, 202633 min

The human side of emergency response: preparing students for real-world readiness with Kaitlyn Laurélle

Welcome to the fourth episode of our new Voices of Readiness Podcast! We're so excited to expand our audience and discuss ways to help your students get career ready in whatever field they choose to pursue. In today's episode, Kaitlyn Laurélle shares advice about preparing students for the world of emergency response. Kaitlyn Laurélle is an educator, author and Wilderness EMT with more than a decade of experience in emergency response. As a lifelong outdoor adventurer, Kaitlyn is passionate about helping people build the skills, confidence and composure they need to respond when emergencies happen, especially in resource-limited environments. Kaitlyn is the co-author of First on Scene and the founder of Outdoor Adventures Coaching where she teaches wilderness and remote first aid classes. When she is not teaching, Kaitlyn can be found exploring her home state of Minnesota with her partner, Jess, and family, or out on an adventure herself. In this episode, you'll learn all about: Kaitlyn's years of experience in emergency response The balance of technical and emotional expertise required in emergency response How to help your students build empathy and composure How to build effective and cost-efficient simulation-based learning scenarios Discover how to teach the technical skills, plus the composure and compassion your students will need to become first-rate emergency responders. Purchase Kaitlyn's book, First on Scene, here . Pearson Career Ready - Help your learners explore careers, build in-demand skills, and prove they're ready for what's next. Contact a Pearson Career Ready expert - Connect with our experts to discover the right career readiness solutions for your students and programs.

October 21, 202637 min

Connecting learning to real-world opportunity with Andy Dunaway

Welcome to the third episode of our new Voices of Readiness Podcast! We're so excited to expand our audience and discuss ways to help your students get career ready in whatever field they choose to pursue. In today's episode, Pearson's own Andy Dunaway is sharing advice for how you can connect your classroom to real-world opportunities and careers. Andrew Dunaway is an educational technology, product management, and business development professional currently serving as Director of Career-Connected Learning at Pearson. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Andrew specializes in researching, acquiring, developing, producing, and deploying innovative educational technologies and learning experiences that bridge the gap between industry and education. Andrew has been in the educational technology and learning space for 15 years with deep expertise spanning the entire product lifecycle in K-12, higher education, and industry training. In this episode, you'll learn all about: How AI and technology are changing how the workforce operates and hires The impact of career-connected learning on career readiness Human qualities that matter most in the workforce Why assessments and credentials still matter How industry and education can collaborate and close the skills gap Are you hoping to empower your students with in-demand skills this year? This episode will give you insight you need to get your students career ready. Connect with Andy on LinkedIn here . Pearson Career Ready - Help your learners explore careers, build in-demand skills, and prove they're ready for what's next. Contact a Pearson Career Ready expert - Connect with our experts to discover the right career readiness solutions for your students and programs. Andy shared research from Pearson. You can see the details below: Lost in Transition report Mind the Learning Gap report

October 14, 202629 min

Building career pathways that lead to real jobs with Jennifer Wilkerson

Welcome to the second episode of our new Voices of Readiness Podcast! We're so excited to expand our audience and discuss ways to help your students get career ready in whatever field they choose to pursue. We're diving into the world of construction and skilled trades with Jennifer Wilkerson. Jennifer is the Vice President of Innovation and Advancement at the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Her background includes teaching high school English for 13 years and serving as the acting business manager for six years at the welding and fabrication company she and her husband founded and owned. She has been at NCCER for almost 17 years where she has worked in multiple departments and positions. Jennifer actively presents about workforce development issues and resources, construction career pathways, industry-education partnerships, women in construction, and recruitment into the construction industry. In this episode, you'll learn all about: Why credentials and industry-recognized certifications matter How educators can build CTE programs that align with the workforce How to build industry partnerships and councils Whether you're new to NCCER, or have lots of experience in CTE and construction education, Jennifer has some fabulous advice for how to build career pathways and get students workforce ready. Credentials are more than check-the-box requirements in construction. Get all the details about the value of construction credentials here . How has NCCER impacted construction education in other states? Learn more with this case study from North Carolina. Pearson Career Ready - Help your learners explore careers, build in-demand skills, and prove they're ready for what's next. Contact a Pearson Career Ready expert - Connect with our experts to discover the right career readiness solutions for your students and programs.

October 7, 202631 min

Training for the moments that matter with Dan Limmer

Welcome to the new Voices of Readiness Podcast! We're so excited to expand our audience and discuss ways to help your students get career ready in whatever field they choose to pursue. In this episode, we were privileged to sit down with Dan Limmer to discuss career readiness in the EMS field. Daniel "Dan" Limmer, BS, NRP continues a career in EMS and Law enforcement that has spanned more than 40 years. He is a licensed paramedic in Texas and Maine and practices with the Bayou Vista FD in Texas. Dan is a passionate educator who speaks at EMS conferences around the world. He's co-authored several textbooks, including Emergency Care, EMR Complete, the education standards Transition Series for EMT, AEMT, Paramedic, and EMPACT. He teaches in the Central Washington University paramedic degree program and develops smartphone and web-based courses, continuing education, and review apps for the emergency service fields through his company, Limmer Education, LLC. Dan shares valuable insights for EMS educators, and those preparing students to be successful in any career. Throughout the episode you'll hear: How to prepare students for high-pressure, real-world decision-making Why scenario-based learning and simulations are better than a "sage on the stage" traditional classroom Which soft and technical skills matter most in the choreography of career readiness How to build students from memorization to application and critical thinking With his trademark candor and optimism, Dan shares valuable advice for EMS trainers and education professionals alike. Pearson Career Ready - Help your learners explore careers, build in-demand skills, and prove they're ready for what's next. Contact a Pearson Career Ready expert - Connect with our experts to discover the right career readiness solutions for your students and programs. Brady EMS Courses | Pearson US - Prepare future EMS professionals with trusted, real-world training and learning resources from Brady and Pearson.

October 6, 20262 min

Welcome to Voices of Readiness Podcast

September 23, 202629 min

Building bridges- Preparing students for engineering careers with Steve O'Neil

Being an engineer means being a problem solver. But that's not the only skill your students need for successful careers as engineers. We sat down with Steve O'Neil to find out how you can build bridges for your students, from classroom to industry. Steve is a mechanical engineering graduate of Wayne State University, where he began his career in the automotive industry working as both an application engineer and a machinist. Those early experiences laid the foundation for the next major chapter in his professional path: an extensive period in the biomedical field. There, he focused on studying, developing, and preparing for the manufacture of implant and instrument systems used in knee, hip, and spinal replacement procedures. For the past ten years, Stephen has applied this industry background to the education sector, teaching both secondary and post-secondary students with a strong emphasis on mechanical and architectural software design. During this time, he has helped many students at Cape Fear Community College earn Autodesk certifications in Revit, Inventor, Fusion 360, and AutoCAD at both the user and professional levels. In this episode, we talked with Steve about all things engineering. Listen to find out: Key skills your students need as engineers Projects you can use to help students build important capabilities Tools your students need to master The impact of AI on engineering It doesn't matter what area of engineering you teach. Steve's advice will show you how to help your students bridge the gap between classroom and career. Learn more about Autodesk certifications here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Autodesk/Certifications/Overview . Connect with your fellow educators, like Steve, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/. Don't miss your chance to learn about our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://www.pearsonvue.com/certified.

September 9, 202639 min

Getting career ready in an industrial high school with Amy Waters

Career readiness is all about preparing students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. But career readiness isn't one size fits all. What you focus on will vary from school to school. In this episode, Amy Waters tells us about how she gets her students career ready in industrial Louisiana. Amy is a 37-year veteran teacher at Hahnville High School in Boutte, Louisiana, with no plans of retiring any time soon. She is a complete nerd who has taught everything from Latin to computer programming and still loves learning new things and sharing that knowledge with everyone. She is constantly trying to find new and creative ways to teach lessons that will reach all her students and works hard to make sure that every one of them walks away with a sense of accomplishment. We talked with Amy about all areas of career readiness, including: What skills she focuses on How to decipher and adjust curriculum based on industry demands and local labor market needs Connecting with local advisory boards Creating valuable work-based learning experiences The power of certifications An expert in workforce readiness, Amy's advice will empower you to be a better educator whether you teach in an industrial, urban, suburban, or rural setting. Connect with your fellow educators, like Amy, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/. Don't miss your chance to learn about our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://www.pearsonvue.com/certified.

August 26, 202631 min

Meet the 2026 CERTIFIED Educators of the Year: Fran Clark and Ashley Faulkner

Each year, we are so excited to recognize exceptional contributions in education with our CERTIFIED Educator of the Year award. Given during our annual CERTIFIED Educator Conference, this award is given to dedicated, talented, and powerful educators from across the United States. And this year, we couldn't give the award to just one teacher. We're pleased to announce that Fran Clark and Ashley Faulkner are our 2026 CERTIFIED Educators of the Year! Fran is an accounting and business educator at West Johnston High School. Ashley is a CTE educator at Triton High School. Both women have been instrumental in developing and implementing the accounting curriculum for the state of North Carolina. Their impact is felt across the state, and each day in their classrooms. In this episode, we talk with Fran and Ashley about becoming the 2026 Educators of the Year, their teaching journeys, and their approaches to creating lasting relationships with their students. Inspiring and energizing, this is one episode you won't want to miss. Learn more about Fran and Ashley on our blog here . You can also watch Fran and Ashley in action (and hear from their students) in our CERTIFIED Educator of the Year video here . Connect with educators like Fran and Ashley in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here . Learn more about our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here .

August 12, 202627 min

Launching an AI program at your school with Cyndi Krebs

Your students are going to enter an automated workforce. Teaching and empowering them with AI skills has never been more crucial. If you and your colleagues are interested in launching an AI program at your school, we're here to help. We were lucky to learn from Cyndi Krebs in this week's episode. Professor Krebs is the Program Director of Business Technologies and Education and a professor in the Information Systems and Technology Department at Utah Valley University. Since joining UVU in 1988, she has held multiple roles including Assistant Dean of the School of Business and Department Chair of the Digital Media Department and the Office Technology/Administration Department. Cyndi shares how Utah Valley University is paving the way in AI education in Utah. They've structured a program that incorporates certification, undergraduate, and graduate degrees. Learn about how they've built their curriculum, where they go for expertise, and how they're giving students hands-on experience with AI. AI isn't going anywhere. Find out how you can create a program at your school that will empower students with these key skills. Learn more about AI certification: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/CCS/Certification/Certify/Generative-AI-Foundations . Connect with your fellow educators, like Cyndi, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/. Don't miss your chance to learn about our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://www.pearsonvue.com/certified.

June 10, 202628 min

Creating a modern classroom with Vladimir Noda

Students want more than lectures. They want engaging, hands-on curriculum and coursework. Modifying your class to fit the needs of Gen Z students can feel overwhelming. Luckily Vladimir Noda is here to help. Vladimir is an enthusiastic educator, instructional coach, and advocate for business education with over a decade of experience enhancing student success. Throughout his career, he has assisted countless students in obtaining industry-recognized certifications in Microsoft Office, Adobe, and the Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) exam. As an instructional coach, he is dedicated to building a top-tier business program and enhancing his school's presence through strategic marketing efforts. With a dynamic approach to curriculum development and certification preparation, Vladimir aims to empower educators with the tools and strategies necessary to boost student achievement, expand their programs, and cultivate future business leaders. In this episode, Vladimir shares what career readiness means to him and how it starts with teachers focusing more on the students they serve. Discover how to make measured, school‑wide adjustments—and quick, tactical tweaks—that fit your school and classroom. Get ideas for how to engage with your students while also ensuring that the changes you're making are having a positive impact. Your students deserve your best. Get ideas for ways to meet their needs. Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog . Connect with your fellow educators, like Vlad, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/ . Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://www.pearsonvue.com/certified/conference.html .

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