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UHS Principal to Present at National Conference
UHS Principal to Present at National Conference
Uxbridge Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Frank Tiano, is proud to announce that Uxbridge High School Principal Michael Rubin will be presenting as part of a panel discussion at this year’s South by Southwest Education Conference, commonly referred to as SXSW-EDU. The conference is being held virtually this year in early March, and the panel is being sponsored by American Student Assistance.
Entitled “Skills-based Hiring: A Paradigm Shift for Educators,” the discussion will focus on ways that schools can incorporate skill development and career readiness into traditional models. As employers are moving from a pedigree-based to a skills-based hiring approach, educators are stepping up to instill students with the new foundational skills needed to succeed including life skills, which are the largest barrier to students’ life readiness after high school. The other panelists include Grace Suh, Vice President, Education at IBM Corporation; Jake Hirsch-Allen, North America Workforce Development and Higher Ed System Lead for LinkedIn Learning; Carlos Moreno, Executive Director, Big Picture Learning; and Pat Leonard, Vice President, Strategic Partner and Business Development, Credly. Julie Lammers, the Vice President for Government Relations and Advocacy for ASA, served as moderator.
Participants in the discussion will learn how the paradigm shift to skill-based hiring is changing the landscape, how youths are demonstrating skills, and how policymakers & education leaders can foster skill development to ensure equal opportunity for all. In addition, there will be focus on how employers are shifting to skill-based hiring & how educators are instilling today’s students with the skills they’ll need for tomorrow, the new foundational skills (human skills, digital building blocks, business enablers) that form the basis for 21st century world of work, and how federal, state and local policymakers & education leaders can foster the development of skills & ensure equal access for all students.
“It is always a privilege to highlight the work of our team at UHS,” said Mr. Rubin. “Even in the midst of a global pandemic, our educators are innovating and developing better ways to prepare students for their futures. We share how the balance between skills and content drives what our students and staff do in our classes to inspire and energize others.”
“It’s been our experience that in order to drive change, it is critical to have engaged principals at the helm, “ said Jean Eddy, the CEO of American Student Assistance. “And, we couldn’t be more pleased that Mike Rubin joined our SXSW-EDU panel on the Paradigm Shift to Skill-based Hiring. The skills required of the modern workforce have changed: greater digital intensity, increased business acumen, and more versatile human skills. Mike’s insight into how Uxbridge High School embraces the paradigm shift and embeds skill acquisition in the coursework sets the gold standard for other high schools.”
Mr. Rubin was named the 2020 Massachusetts High School Principal of the Year, and Uxbridge High School has developed three career pathways in advanced manufacturing/engineering, biomedical science, and information technology/media studies, and is in the approval process for a fourth pathway in business, finance, and logistics. Under his leadership, UHS has earned acclaim as one of the top 20% of high schools nationally according to US News and World Report, and has earned acceptance into both the CAPS Network and National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools. Most recently, UHS’ work for innovating during the pandemic earned the school recognition as part of the Canopy Project, a national network of about 220 programs and schools that have developed new ways of learning during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The model being implemented at UHS of partnerships and collaborations, and looking at the essential skills for success, has had a direct impact not only on the entire Uxbridge district and our community, but the region as a whole,” Dr. Tiano said. “This work is the future of where schools will be, and Uxbridge continues to be at the forefront.”
American Student Assistance® (ASA) is a national nonprofit committed to helping kids know themselves, know their options, and make informed choices to achieve their education and career goals. ASA® has a 60-year legacy of working directly with students to increase their access to higher education through loans and financial education. ASA has turned its experience into impactful solutions for students in grades 6-12 to help them pursue their dreams. To learn more about ASA, visit www.asa.org/about-us.