Take Your Place in The Shift: Engage, Support, Participate (Vol. 1, No. 2)

By John “JR” Roberson

The Shift | Vol. 1, No. 2 – Future Proofing Our Communities

Inside the Work: A Blueprint for Future-Ready Careers in Kern County

The sky was still dark as I stepped onto the bus, the city lights of Los Angeles flickering behind me. It was 6:30 AM, and the streets were just beginning to stir. The hum of anticipation filled the air as a diverse group of leaders, educators, and workforce innovators settled into their seats, coffee in hand, ready for the journey ahead. We were bound for Kern County—not just for a tour, but for an immersive look at a skilled trades education model that is shaping the future of workforce development.

As the freeway stretched ahead, so did the possibilities. I gazed out the window, thinking about the significance of this visit. In my role as Vice President of External Affairs at LeadersUp, I continually seek scalable workforce solutions—strategies that not only create jobs but also open doors to long-term economic mobility. Today was about more than observing; it was about learning how to build, scale, and replicate a system that ensures every young person—especially those from historically excluded communities—has access to the skills, mentorship, and pathways necessary for success.

The conversations on the bus reflected a shared urgency: How do we reimagine Career and Technical Education (CTE) as a dynamic engine for economic growth? What lessons could we take back to Los Angeles to ensure that our own young people have access to these opportunities? The answer, we hoped, would become clear as we stepped into Kern County’s Regional Occupational Center (ROC) and Career Technical Education Center (CTEC)—two institutions that have redefined what it means to prepare students for high-demand careers.

The Power of CTE: A Model for the Future

Kern High School District’s Regional Occupational Center (ROC) and Career Technical Education Center (CTEC) are more than classrooms and workshops; they are incubators of opportunity. With 38 programs spanning construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology, these centers prepare the next generation for high-demand careers. The district consists of 19 comprehensive schools and five alternative schools, serving approximately 43,000 students. ROC and CTEC students attend class three hours a day, choosing between morning and afternoon sessions, culminating in approximately 300-500 hours of hands-on instruction. The statistics speak volumes—96% of ROC/CTEC seniors graduate, 88% complete their program requirements, and over 7,900 college credits were earned last year alone. However, beyond the numbers, the stories we heard from students and faculty painted a compelling narrative of transformation.

At ROC and CTEC, we witnessed student ambassadors from their culinary arts, cosmetology, veterinary, automotive, mechanics, welding, drone piloting, 3-D animation, game design, fire and police, and robotics programs talk about not only the technical skills and the impact the program is having on them, but also the culture. From the administration and CTE teachers to the students, they all embodied a culture of trust, which leads to creating thriving learning environments supported by industry.

Several students shared how their pathway has equipped them with skills that immediately translated into internships, which they refer to as community classrooms. Others described their aspirations to start a business after completing their program, due to the many students' strong entrepreneurial mindset—proof that CTE isn’t just about job readiness; it’s about cultivating agency and ambition.

How ROC and CTEC Built a Model for Success

During my visit, I asked the ROC/CTEC principal how they got started, and his response highlighted key strategies that have been instrumental in their success:

1. A Clear Vision and Community Buy-In: Before any infrastructure was built, they developed a vision for what CTE could be and ensured that it resonated with students, parents, industry, and policymakers.

2. Catalyst Leaders and Stakeholder Engagement: They identified key individuals—political figures, educators, and industry leaders—who could serve as champions to secure regional and political buy-in.

3. Shifting the Narrative Around CTE: By positioning Career and Technical Education as a viable and prestigious path to economic mobility, they changed perceptions and increased demand for these programs.

4. Industry Partnerships from Day One: They brought employers to the table from the start, ensuring that industry leaders had a say in curriculum development and program design.

5. Early Awareness, Access, and Exposure: Their focus on providing early career exposure has created a structured, well-defined pathway that allows high school students to transition directly into high-wage, in-demand careers.

By focusing on these elements, ROC and CTEC have built an environment where students thrive, driven by passion and a strong culture that has been nurtured over the last decade.

Post-Secondary Alignment: Strengthening Career Pathways

One of the most impressive aspects of ROC and CTEC is their strong alignment with post-secondary institutions, ensuring that students have clear pathways to continue their education and training. Partnerships with Bakersfield College (BC) and CSU Bakersfield are integral to this model. Through advisory boards and ongoing collaboration, these institutions work with ROC and CTEC to identify students' career goals and provide additional training where needed. Whether through dual enrollment or industry certifications, these partnerships ensure that students graduate with a competitive edge, ready to step into their careers or continue their education with a seamless transition.

Industry as the Classroom: Real-World Learning at Its Core

A fundamental component of ROC and CTEC’s success is their engagement with industry partners—not just as advisors, but as active participants in shaping the curriculum that students learn. Programs are developed in direct response to workforce needs, ensuring that students gain relevant, in-demand skills. Work-based learning is a core element, incorporating field trips, apprenticeships, and community classrooms that immerse students in real-world environments. This approach builds technical skills and fosters professional networks that can lead to direct employment opportunities.

For juniors and seniors, these deep career explorations are often shaped by the structure of their schedules—whether they attend morning or afternoon sessions, each block of time is optimized for immersive learning experiences. This structured approach ensures students receive robust, hands-on training that aligns with real-world demands.

The Many Partners Who Made This Possible

This experience would not have been possible without the thoughtful coordination and leadership of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, which organized this site visit as part of its mission to advance skilled trades education. Their commitment to investing in high-quality Career and Technical Education, as well as fostering partnerships between schools, businesses, and policymakers, is a driving force in creating sustainable workforce solutions.

Additionally, today’s visit brought together a coalition of influential leaders, including representatives from the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Pasadena City College, the LA Economic Development Corporation, the California Community Foundation, and key industry partners who are deeply invested in strengthening pathways to economic mobility. Their collective insights and engagement throughout the visit reinforced the need for a unified strategy to expand and elevate CTE programs in Los Angeles and beyond.

Lessons for LA County and Beyond

Kern’s success is no accident. It results from a community-wide commitment to career pathways, a $750 million investment in education, and strong industry partnerships. Their approach offers valuable lessons for Los Angeles and other regions grappling with workforce gaps and economic inequity:

1. Industry-Driven Curriculum: Programs are designed in collaboration with local employers, ensuring students graduate with skills that align with labor market demands.

2. Early Career Exposure: Students begin engaging with career pathways in high school, reducing the uncertainty that often delays economic mobility.

3. Voter and Community Buy-In: Multiple school bonds have been passed to fund CTE expansion, demonstrating strong public support for career-focused education.

4. Seamless Transitions to Workforce and Postsecondary Education: The system ensures students have pathways to college, apprenticeships, or direct employment, preventing the all-too-common "dead-end diploma" problem.

Who Will Build and Rebuild Los Angeles?

As the freeway stretched back toward LA, I couldn’t shake the clarity from Kern County: future-proofing our communities isn’t just about programs or pipelines—it’s about people who believe we can design something better and then get to work building it. Like a great LEGO set, it starts with imagination but is sustained through connection, precision, and persistence.

Currently, LA is located at its own building site. We have the blueprints—partnerships, innovation, and a generation of ready talent—but the build only becomes real when we come together to pick up the pieces. The question isn’t whether the next wave of opportunity is coming; it's whether we're prepared for it. It’s who will assemble it.

At LeadersUp, our answer is clear: we will build with the community—with youth whose ideas don’t fit into old systems, employers ready to create purpose-driven work, and policymakers who see inclusion not as a trend but as a fundamental infrastructure. That’s how we future-proof our city—not by waiting for change but by constructing it side by side.

So here’s the invitation: Take your place in the shift. Step into the work that turns blueprints into breakthroughs. Schedule a discovery call with our team today to learn more about LeadersUp programs and services. Together, we’re not just working toward the future; we’re building it—brick by brick, voice by voice, community by community.

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John “JR” Roberson is the Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement at LeadersUp, driving transformative partnerships and systemic workforce equity through cross-sector collaboration and policy influence.