How CTE Really Works for Students ft. Dr. Joey Mendoza | My EdTech Life 344

CTE is changing fast. Certifications, digital skills, pathways, tutoring, attendance, career pipelines—there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Joey Mendoza, a South Texas educator and freshly-minted doctoral researcher who has worked across classrooms, regional service centers, EdTech companies, and now the CTE space with YaizY.

We unpack what CTE really looks like today: what works, what doesn’t, where students get stuck, and why attendance—yes, attendance—may matter more than tutoring when it comes to math achievement. We also break down how digital-first CTE programs can help students earn real certifications that actually translate into job-ready skills.

Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome And Sponsor Shoutouts
1:16 Introducing Dr. Joey Mendoza
2:50 From Classroom To Edtech And STEM
5:20 Hands‑On STEM And Student Impact
8:05 Entering CTE: Digital Skills And Pathways
11:07 Digital Nomads And Remote Work Futures
13:18 Certifications And Early Pathway Access
16:20 Myths And Mindsets About CTE
19:10 Funding, Access, And Stacking Credentials
22:00 How YaizY Works From Grade 4 Up
24:20 Barriers To Strong CTE Programs
28:10 Culture, Data, And ROI In CTE
31:10 Why Districts Must Lead With Industry
32:32 Dissertation Setup: Tutoring And STAR Math
34:30 Key Finding: Attendance Outweighs Tutoring
37:10 Rethinking Tutoring, Fidelity, And Alignment
39:40 Attendance Realities And Family Factors
42:00 Next Steps For After‑School Effectiveness
44:00 Closing Thoughts And Rapid‑Fire Questions
47:10 Thank Yous, Links, And Sign‑Off

Sponsors:
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Thank you, EduAide, Yellowdig, and Peel Back Education for supporting these conversations.