High School Principal on Why Trade School Is Cool Again

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Matt Bishop, Principal of Taconic High School in Pittsfield, MA. Bishop has worked in the Pittsfield school system for nearly 30 years. With 805 students this school year, this is the first year Taconic has become a full vocational high school (CTE). Times have changed, and attending a vocational high school is now something students seek out rather than look down on. In fact, there was a lottery just to get into Taconic. We discuss all 15 programs students can choose from alongside their core classes, student mindsets, hopes and goals, attendance issues, in-person learning, the changing sports programs, students' respect for diversity among their peers, respect for teachers, and student behavior overall.