#25 Guest: Eric Roberts & Brady Wheeler

In this episode, I’m joined by two Baltimore leaders advancing career readiness at scale, Brady Wheeler, Senior Program Manager for the Baltimore City Career Coach Initiative at the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, and Eric Roberts, Director of Post-Secondary Success at Baltimore City Public Schools. Together, we dive into Maryland Blueprint Pillar 3 (college & career readiness) and what it takes to implement career coaching for students in grades 6–12, including the state’s ambitious goal that 45% of graduates will complete a registered apprenticeship or earn an industry-recognized credential by 2030–2031. Baltimore City’s approach has scaled quickly now supporting 115 schools with 46 career coaches, reaching 73% of middle schoolers and 55% of high school students. Last year, coaches facilitated 2,000+ events and engaged 500+ employer partners to expand access to real career exploration opportunities. Top 3 Insights:  Scaling fast takes trust + principal buy-in: The team shares how town halls, regular check-ins, and school-by-school support helped strengthen implementation. Career planning starts in middle school: Blueprint’s six-year plan sets the expectation that every student builds a pathway from middle school through graduation. It’s a team sport: Eric describes the “triangle offense” — career coaches, counselors, post-secondary advisors, and partners working together to support every student’s next steps.  We close with what’s next: stronger shared systems, aligned professional learning, and better data visibility so every team member can support students more seamlessly.