“When I think about education today, one of the things that I’m struck by is the fact that our current design and our systems are actually outdated. They were designed centuries ago based on a factory model,” says Tequilla Brownie, Ed.D., CEO, TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project).

She continues, “They don’t serve us well in today’s context in ensuring that kids are accessing the skills, the talent, the tools, and resources that they need to have multiple options to ensure that they are able to obtain a career that helps them obtain a thriving life as an adult.”

WorkingNation sat down with Brownie at JFF Horizons in New Orleans.

Brownie says access to high quality teaching and learning is important, but it’s not enough. “We know that kids need access to things like social capital. You get social capital by way of those experiential learning opportunities like internships, career-connected learning conversations with adults in various capacities.”

“But the key is that those things right now are happenstance. We don’t guarantee that every child leaves high school with the right set of skills, social capital, career-connected learning, and frankly advising that’s going to help them connect their passions with the all the many different options of careers that are out there.”

Brownie says student introductions to careers must come at an early age. “Imagine how detrimental it is for students from poverty, students from marginalized communities being only exposed to a very limited number of career options or waiting until they’re in high school to even begin those conversations. Frankly, that’s too late.”

Learn more about TNTP.