Career, Vocational, & Life-Ready Education: Freeing Our Kids from the College Debt Trap

Alex Rosales
6 days ago
3 min read

As a dad, veteran, and educator, I've watched too many Anchorage teens get funneled into a "college or bust" mindset that leaves them buried in debt, unqualified for real jobs, and stuck in their parents' basement. In Alaska, where we rank 46th in education outcomes, it's time to flip the narrative. Not every kid needs a four-year degree to thrive. Many will build our state as welders, mechanics, or public servants, filling the 10,000+ unfilled jobs staring us down right now. (DOLWD Press Release)

The Problem? Our current model prioritizes college-bound agendas over practical paths. ASD's vocational programs, like the promising Academies of Anchorage, have boosted on-track graduation by 7% in just two years. Yet federal cuts slashed $3.3M in funding, and with an $83M district deficit looming, they're on the chopping block. (Trump administration suddenly cuts $3.3M grant supporting career education in the Anchorage School District - Anchorage Daily News) Meanwhile, trades like electricians and carpenters offer six-figure entry-level pay, but bureaucracy of course gets in the way, from NEA-backed DEI overload to 10-year delays on basics like personal finance, keeps kids from them. Courses that are meant to prepare our kids, like Drivers ed and home ec? Gone, replaced by courses that don't build grade-level skills in reading, math, or history. Teachers tell me in surveys: "We're setting kids up to cope, not conquer." Parents agree: 75% want more career options tailored to what their child excels at. And in our military-heavy community? JBER families need pathways that honor service without the inflation-laden "slave trade" of unnecessary loans.

This isn't just bad for kids; it's crushing our workforce. With 5,000+ new jobs projected for 2025 in construction, health care, and oil & gas, we can't afford to import talent. Cultures across Alaska aren't shaped in classrooms or college campuses, they're forged through hands-on pride and purpose. That's why charters succeed: Less oversight, more parent involvement, happier principals/teachers, and grads 98% more likely to finish strong and stay in-state. What parent doesn't want their kid to stay close to home?

My Plan: Revamp for Real Readiness We'll cater to students, not force-fit them into a failing model. Here's how:

Expand Vocational & Career Programs District-Wide: Double down on CTE pathways in every high school like welding, mechanics, health tech. The vision of aiming for 20% enrollment growth. Restore staples like drivers ed and home ec, partnering with AVTEC for seamless transitions. No more DEI distractions from basics; focus on skills that pay off immediately.
Forge Trade School & Business Partnerships: Link ASD directly to local trades via apprenticeships and job shadowing. Imagine Muldoon kids welding for Alyeska or South Anchorage teens plumbing for new builds alongside contractors to reshape Alaska. Real-world experience without the debt trap. Community advisory boards (parents + principals + employers) will guide what we build, cutting bureaucratic red tape.
Champion Military & Public Service Routes: For our JBER stars: Launch "Service Pathways" fairs with ROTC expansions, ASVAB prep, and term-limited military intros that credit toward certifications. Veterans like me know service clarifies purpose, pre and post-term, these grads enter public roles with clearer vision and unbreakable grit.
Put School Choice at the Center: Vouchers and charters aren't the threats that current board members and allies claim; they're lifelines. Let parents pick fits like Frontier Charter's tech tracks or Hutchison High's vocational highs (top-ranked in Alaska). This empowers underserved families, reduces teacher burnout (they thrive when kids succeed), and lifts our rankings by prepping grads for Alaska jobs, not outmigration.

Teachers aren't quitting kids across the board, they're quitting systems that ignore these paths. Parents aren't opting out because they hate public schools; they're doing it for better fits because they know their kiddos better than someone behind a dias. On April 7, 2026, vote for a board member that builds job-ready pride, not kids-living-in-your-basement futures.

Join the Momentum: Share your vocational win story at @AlexForSchools across your favorite social media platform. Let's rally 30,000 strong for kids who build Alaska. Visit www.alexforschoolboardak.com for more.

Let’s prepare them to lead their own life. Alexander Rosales

Dad | U.S. Air Force Veteran | Educator

Candidate for Anchorage School Board @AlexForSchools