What do you get when you mix friends, professional passions and a podcast? You get Lisa Dughi, CEO of NAF, back on The Network! Lisa starts by sharing the important work the NAF network of schools is doing across the country. The conversation really gets going as Corey and Lisa talk about what it takes to build and support a movement that changes policy and the culture of education.

The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 130 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.

Find us!
Twitter: @capsnet
LinkedIn: CAPS Network
Facebook: CAPS Network
Instagram: @capsnetwork

This thought provoking and rich conversation features Diane Tavenner - education entrepreneur and visionary. Corey and Diane reveal their kindred spirits as they both talk about their work in helping young people find their purpose. Diane shares reflections on her time with Summit Public Schools and Summit Learning and forecasts the future of education with AI, a shift away from "college for all," and the opportunities for support student self-discovery and career exploration. Diane's newest innovation, Futre.Me, is a powerful engine for career exploration and activation. Learn more here.

Learn more about Diane here.

Learn more about Summit Public Schools here.

Listen to Diane's podcast, Class Disrupted, co-hosted with Michael Horn here.

Read Diane's Book, "Prepared: What Kids Need for For a Fulfilled Life" here.

The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 130 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.

Find us!
Twitter: @capsnet
LinkedIn: CAPS Network
Facebook: CAPS Network
Instagram: @capsnetwork

In this episode of The Network, we sit down with Deonne Christensen, CEO of Mazuma Credit Union, to explore how a spark of partnership can grow into something much bigger. Deonne and Corey share the story of Mazuma’s long-standing relationship with CAPS programs across the Kansas City metro—and how that collaboration has become a true wildfire of opportunity for students, educators, and industry partners alike.

In Mazuma’s robust internship experiences students jump into meaningful projects, build real confidence, and get a firsthand look at what a supportive, people-centered workplace can look like. Deonne also talks about why durable skills like communication, adaptability, collaboration, problem-solving are not just “nice to have,” but absolutely essential in today’s workforce.

The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 130 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.

Find us!
Twitter: @capsnet
LinkedIn: CAPS Network
Facebook: CAPS Network
Instagram: @capsnetwork

In this episode, we talk with Jeremy Smith, founder of Pega6, a new alternative to traditional higher education for students pursuing software development and product management careers. Built on experiential learning—much like the CAPS model—Pega6 skips the lectures and accelerates students into real-world work.

Jeremy shares how Blue Valley CAPS became the proving ground for Pega6, with students helping beta test and shape the curriculum. He also dives into the new era of hands-on, tech-driven learning means for young people.

Find out more about Pega6: https://www.pega6.com/

Connect with Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyasmith/

The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 130 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.

Find us!
Twitter: @capsnet
LinkedIn: CAPS Network
Facebook: CAPS Network
Instagram: @capsnetwork

The message could not be clearer, according to Jean Eddy: young people must be given the chance to know themselves deeply and to explore widely in order to find their place in the world. Eddy, Executive Chair and Advisory to the Board of Directors at American Student Assistance (ASA), shares her story and call to action in this episode.

Read Eddy's Book: Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World

The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 130 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.

Find us!
Twitter: @capsnet
LinkedIn: CAPS Network
Facebook: CAPS Network
Instagram: @capsnetwork

"The barrier to innovation is ourselves." Dr. Gillian Chapman joins Corey to talk about Dr. Chapman's career journey and the challenges facing innovative education today. Dr. Chapman is the new Superintendent of Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, KS. Listen in as Dr. Chapman shares her excitement about deeper engagement not only in her district but across all districts.

The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 130 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.

Find us!
Twitter: @capsnet
LinkedIn: CAPS Network
Facebook: CAPS Network
Instagram: @capsnetwork

The Network podcast is 100 episodes old!!

To celebrate the 100th episode of our podcast about all things entrepreneurial, innovative and education we bring you a conversation with Dr. Tom Trigg. Dr. Trigg is the person who started it all. Through his vision and leadership the concept of CAPS was born! In this episode, Dr. Trigg shares stories Corey didn't even know about the early years of the original CAPS program.

Look how far we've come! And look how far we get to go next.

The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 130 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.

Find us!
Twitter: @capsnet
LinkedIn: CAPS Network
Facebook: CAPS Network
Instagram: @capsnetwork

Meet Kate Parsons, the newest member of the CAPS Network team! In this conversation, Kate shares her journey from teacher to principal at Da Vinci Schools to nonprofit founder of Portal Learning. Now serving as Chief Strategy Officer, she brings a passion for authentic, career-connected learning experiences and a pragmatic approach to sustainable growth. Kate and Corey discuss the challenges of scaling while maintaining the human-centered culture that makes CAPS special, the power of employer ecosystems, and why students need experiences that are real—not simulated.

The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 120 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.

Find us!
Twitter: @capsnet
LinkedIn: CAPS Network
Facebook: CAPS Network
Instagram: @capsnetwork