Pathmakers Episode 2: Career Clusters Part 2 - Maryland’s New CTE Experience

In Part 2 of our deep dive into Career Clusters, we move from the "why" to the "how." Host Chuck Wallace welcomes back Dan Hinderliter (Advanced CTE), Marquita Friday, Sally Irwin, and Scott Nichols to unpack Maryland's innovative CTE Flex Model. This new approach moves away from rigid, four-course sequences and empowers students to "choose their own adventure" based on their unique career goals.

Listeners will discover how the new model uses two foundational core courses followed by flexible options like Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment, or "Career Connected Learning"—such as apprenticeships and school-based enterprises. The panel discusses how this shift not only increases student agency but also expands equity by freeing up program capacity. From "curriculum agnostic" standards to post-secondary crosswalks, learn how Maryland is building a system where every student can design a future that fits them.

Host:

Chuck Wallace, Coordinator of Career Technical Student Organizations, MSDE

Guests:

Dan Hinderliter, Associate Director, State Policy at Advance CTE 

Marquita Friday, Director of School Support, MSDE 

Sally Irwin, Coordinator of School Support, MSDE 

Scott Nichols, Coordinator of School Support, MSDE

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro and Recap 

01:08 CTE Flex Model Explained 

02:22 Choosing Your Adventure 

03:55 Career Connected Learning 

05:38 National Alignment and Personalized Pathways 

08:25 Ensuring Equity and Consistency 

11:19 Streamlining Local Implementation 

13:12 Post-Secondary Crosswalks 

15:15 Episode Recap and Closing