Starting a career in today’s economy requires more than a diploma or a degree. Every industry now expects a combination of academic knowledge, technical expertise, life skills, and employability skills. The measure of success is no longer just what you know, but how you apply that knowledge, how you adapt, and how well you align your strengths with opportunity.

Dr. Kevin J. Fleming is honored to receive the 2025 ACTE Postsecondary Award.

I believe everyone should pursue education or training after high school, but it need not be a traditional college degree…at least not right away. Whether it’s a certificate, associate’s degree, apprenticeship, military training, community service, entrepreneurship, or other credentials, our focus should shift to some form of post-secondary preparation for each individual, aligning education with diverse talents and job opportunities.

We stand at an inflection point: the AI era is forcing us to confront a deeper crisis—not just about tools, but about intelligence itself. As Van brilliantly argues in her article, “Humanity Is Facing an Intelligence Crisis,” we weren’t taught to engage with intelligence; we were taught to exploit it.  If we accept that claim, then our curricular design must shift dramatically. Van offers a Leading Intelligence Framework for working with Machine Intelligence.

Preparing for life after high school requires more than a single plan. It requires thoughtful steps and skill development in four key areas that prepare learners for both college and a career. A strong career today depends on how well you develop academic, life, employability, and technical skills. These skills work together to help you earn a living, create a future, and discover what success actually looks like.

The traditional narrative about education requires immediate transformation.

Today, education must evolve. It needs a new measurement system that not only broadens minds but ensures learners graduate as highly sought-after, in-demand individuals. This means creating a student experience that is intentionally both relevant and purposeful. Without this dual focus, education risks becoming a time-wasting exercise for many students, leaving them disengaged, directionless, or ill-prepared for the future.