What will today’s students need to thrive in a workplace transformed by artificial intelligence? For Los Angeles County superintendents and cabinet members, that question came to life through conversations with students and industry leaders, and visits to two settings that celebrate what people can imagine and create.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s 2026 Superintendents’ Professional Collaborative Conference, themed “The Future of Work: Building the Bridge from Classroom to Career,” brought education leaders together to explore how schools can connect learning with emerging opportunities across the region.

Led by Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo, the gathering paired a sneak peek at the California Science Center’s Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, featuring Space Shuttle Endeavour, with a visit to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Together, the experiences invited participants to consider the technical knowledge, creativity and human skills students will need to shape their futures.

Students bring their questions to the conversation

Students helped lead the day, including the Pledge of Allegiance, LACOE’s land acknowledgment and introducing a pre-recorded student video. In the video, members of the L.A. County Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, high school students from across the county, shared opinions, questions and concerns about the jobs that will be available to them in the age of AI.

Students played a central role in driving the event by leading the Pledge of Allegiance, delivering LACOE’s land acknowledgment and launching a digital segment from the L.A. County Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Through this presentation, students voiced their perspectives, questions and concerns regarding future career opportunities in the era of AI. 

Their participation grounded the discussion in the experiences of the young people whose futures were at its center. It also reinforced the importance of listening to students as schools design learning experiences and career pathways.

Connecting regional opportunity to classroom learning

Keynote speaker Stephen Cheung, president and CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and World Trade Center Los Angeles, provided a regional perspective on the future of work. His remarks helped frame the connections between a changing economy, emerging opportunities and education.

An industry panel moderated by Dr. Duardo then examined those connections through the lens of space and aerospace. Panelists included Mark Taylor of Boeing, Savi Glowe of BioAstra, Jessica Jensen of SpaceX, Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent David Zaid and El Segundo Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jason Johnson.

A central message emerged: preparing students for an increasingly technical workplace requires both deep knowledge and strong human skills. Panelists emphasized collaboration, communication, critical thinking, ethical problem-solving, curiosity and resourcefulness.

The discussion also explored how students can learn to use AI thoughtfully. While AI can make some tasks easier and accelerate development, panelists stressed the continued need for testing, sound judgment and attention to safety and environmental responsibility.

Building, testing and learning through experience

Hands-on learning was a recurring theme. Jensen emphasized the importance of opportunities to build, test and improve ideas, helping students connect engineering theory with the demands of real work.

Panelists pointed to job shadowing, team projects and authentic industry challenges as ways to develop those skills. Projects with timelines, budgets and shared responsibilities give students practice navigating the team dynamics they will encounter in the workplace.

The conversation also highlighted the range of pathways into aerospace, including engineering, technical education, skilled trades and manufacturing. Glowe broadened the discussion to human health in space, describing the need for compact diagnostic and medical technologies and people who can think across disciplines.

These examples encouraged education leaders to look beyond familiar job titles and consider how biology, health, engineering and other fields intersect.

Partnerships that open doors

District leaders emphasized the value of sustained relationships with industry. Johnson described El Segundo Unified’s connections with nearby aerospace employers and its aerospace pathway. Zaid highlighted Long Beach’s partnerships across education, industry and city leadership, connecting career preparation with social mobility and investment in the community.

Throughout the discussion, panelists called for ongoing communication between employers and schools about workforce needs. Bringing real problems into classrooms can help students apply their learning while giving educators insight into how curriculum and career pathways can evolve.

From innovation to imagination

The visit to the Lucas Museum broadened the day’s focus to storytelling, creativity and understanding different perspectives. Alongside the Endeavour experience, it underscored the role of imagination in both scientific discovery and artistic expression.

The Collaborative also recognized Dr. Brian Markarian of Hawthorne School District as the 2026 Los Angeles County Superintendent of the Year. The honor highlights his ongoing leadership and dedication to advancing educational excellence and student achievement across the district. 

Participants were invited to reflect on what they wanted to explore or rethink in their districts and where LACOE could provide support. Those reflections will help inform continued conversations about partnerships and learning experiences that give every student opportunities to discover a path from classroom to career.