How One District Built a Waitlist for CTE With Dr. Jeremy Qualls | E259

This episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast for Administrators features Dr. Jeremy Qualls, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center in Williamson County, Tennessee. Jeremy shares how his district is redefining Career and Technical Education (CTE) by blending workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem solving into a dynamic, student-centered model. Moving beyond outdated perceptions of “vo-tech,” Jeremy highlights how modern CTE programs can prepare students for both high-paying careers and elite college admissions through authentic learning experiences. A central theme is the power of community partnerships. From collaborating with Caterpillar to co-develop workforce pipelines, to working with the Tennessee Titans on real marketing challenges, students are solving real problems with real stakes. Jeremy emphasizes that nothing in their program is hypothetical—students build businesses, pitch ideas, and learn through failure. He also underscores the importance of culture, relationships, and flexibility in leadership. By prioritizing student voice, authentic work, and adaptive teaching practices, his team has created a high-demand program with waitlists and measurable success. Ultimately, this episode challenges school leaders to rethink traditional education models and embrace innovative, partnership-driven approaches that truly prepare students for the future.   Community & Calls to Action Follow Dr. Jeremy Qualls and the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center on LinkedIn Visit the campus or attend the ribbon cutting (August 7) Connect with local industry partners to bring real-world problems into classrooms Reflect on your district’s CTE vision—are students doing real or hypothetical work? Share this episode with fellow administrators and leave a review to support the show