Pasadena City College Superintendent-President Participates in Live Webinar

Dr. Robert Miller, interim superintendent-president of Pasadena City College, recently participated in a webinar to discuss the success of the Linked Learning approach and its effect on the transition of California high school students to postsecondary education.

Miller, along with three other educational leaders, convened in Washington D.C. Oct. 9 for the live and interactive webinar titled “Beyond High School: Efforts to Improve Postsecondary Transitions Through Linked Learning.” The webinar was facilitated by the Alliance for Excellent Education.

Linked Learning is a California high school improvement approach that aims to connect strong academics with real-world experience in career-oriented pathways, including engineering, arts and media, and biomedical and health sciences. The goal is to help students gain an advantage in high school and strengthen their transition to college and beyond.

According to a recent report released by the Alliance for Excellent Education, several California schools and school districts have successfully used Linked Learning to increase high school graduation rates and college-going rates.

PCC is currently one of eight community colleges involved in the California Community College Linked Learning Initiative. CCCLLI brings together Linked Learning high schools, community colleges, business leaders, and four-year colleges to create pathways for Linked Learning students.

During the webinar, Miller discussed how PCC leveraged over the years state and federal funds to implement its own pathways initiatives.

“Our faculty, staff, and administration are very proud of what we are achieving for our students and the communities we serve through our Pathways, Linked Learning, and Career Pathways Trust initiatives,” Miller said. “I appreciate the opportunity to share these accomplishments on the national stage provided by the Alliance for Excellent Education.”

Earlier this year, PCC was named the recipient of a $15 million grant award from the California Department of Education. Called the California Career Pathways Trust, it establishes a competitive grant program designed to connect businesses, K-12 schools, and community colleges to develop programs that encourage students to stay in school and seek careers in high-demand fields.

“This grant will allow PCC to provide opportunities for students to create and develop technical skills that can be readily translated into meaningful and productive careers,” said Salomon Davila, dean of PCC Career and Technical Education.

Other panelists who participated in the discussion included Diane Friedlaender, senior associate for the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education; Phillip Lovell, vice president for Policy and Advocacy of Comprehensive High School Reform; and Lori Meyer of the Alliance for Excellent Education. Seraiya Wright, a graduate of the Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School, also served on the panel to give a student’s perspective on the topic.

The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, D.C.–based national policy and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those who are traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship.

For more information on the Alliance, visit www.all4ed.org.