Authored by Eli Weinzveg, Executive Director

At its core, an intermediary is a connector. The role can be complicated and nuanced and sometimes feels like trying to plan a simple Saturday with friends. One person wants to spend the afternoon wine tasting in Healdsburg, another wants fish tacos out at Bodega Bay, someone else refuses to drive over Highway 12 after noon, and somehow you are the one expected to pull it all together without too much complaining in the group text. 

In education, intermediary organizations often play a similar role. Schools, industry leaders, community organizations, higher education partners, and students all bring different perspectives, needs, and goals to the table. The work of an intermediary is to help align systems, build trust, remove barriers, and create opportunities that would not happen in isolation. 

That is the work we strive to do every day at Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation. We are both a convener and a bridge builder, helping connect education to workforce opportunity, innovation to implementation, and most importantly, students to futures they can see for themselves. Through partnerships with districts including Santa Rosa City Schools, Petaluma City Schools, and West Sonoma County Union High School District, CTE Foundation convenes educators, supports innovation, and builds stronger connections between academics, career pathways, and real-world learning. 

On April 30th, that mission came to life in a very real way as educators, district leaders, students, and community partners from across Sonoma County gathered at Analy High School for Innovation in Action: A Regional Learning Exchange on School Redesign and Integrated Pathways. More than just a convening, the day embodied what intermediary work looks like in practice: bringing people together across systems, creating space for honest collaboration, and building momentum around a shared vision for the future of education. 

The Learning Exchange was part of CTE Foundation’s work as an intermediary and local funder to create more student-centered, relevant, and future -ready learning experiences. Designed as a space for collaboration, reflection, and shared learning, the day centered around one essential question: How do we redesign school so that every student feels connected, challenged, supported, and prepared for their future? 

What made the day especially powerful was that this was not a polished showcase or a finished product, but educators opening their doors and inviting the community into authentic conversations about what it takes to build a school where students thrive. 

Students at the Center 

One of the highlights of the day was the student led campus tours. Small groups visited classrooms, learning spaces, and Analy’s new Career Technical Education facilities, guided entirely by students. 

What stood out most was not just the buildings or equipment. It was the pride. 

Students spoke with confidence and ownership about their learning experiences, pathways, and future opportunities. As participants toured the new CTE spaces, the excitement from students was impossible to miss. Their energy was contagious. For many students, the tour marked their first time seeing the interior of Analy’s new CTE building and learning spaces. Following the tours, students excitedly sought out their classmates to share what they had seen and talk about the opportunities they could experience through these pathways next year. Their enthusiasm reflected something deeper than excitement about new facilities. It was a genuine sense of anticipation, belonging, and connection to the learning experiences waiting for them next year through their CTE pathways. 

That excitement reinforced one of the central themes of the day: when students see relevance, purpose, and possibility in their education, engagement changes. 

In addition to leading tours and participating in panels, students from Analy’s culinary program prepared and served lunch for attendees. Again, what stood out was the ownership and pride students took in their work. As educators from across Sonoma County enjoyed the lunch, students stood nearby watching their creations being shared and celebrated. 

Throughout the Learning Exchange, participants repeatedly reflected on the importance of helping students “find themselves” through CTE pathways, work-based learning, and meaningful real-world experiences. 

Learning Together Across Systems 

The day included student and educator panels, collaborative discussions, and Design Studios focused on topics such as: 

• 9th grade student experience 

• Early college credit access 

• Curriculum integration 

• Team teaching models 

• Work-based learning systems 

• Long-term sustainability and district structures 

Rather than simply presenting solutions, educators openly discussed challenges, roadblocks, and lessons learned. 

That openness mattered and that’s why this convening is so important. 

The team at Analy High School took a genuine risk by inviting colleagues into a redesign process that is still evolving. Participants appreciated the vulnerability and honesty behind the experience. Innovation was framed not as perfection, but as a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. 

As one participant reflected:  

“I’m just so excited about the direction Sonoma County is taking education, and the CTE program is opening doors for equitable and empowering experiences for ALL students. I am committed to getting colleagues excited about standards-based grading, and I have renewed enthusiasm that the work it takes to get CTE pathways set up is essential, my energies are reignited!” 

Another shared:  

“Students “find themselves” when they take CTE classes and are exposed to Work Based Learning. (WBL).” 

Across sessions and informal conversations, one of the strongest takeaways was the value of cross-district collaboration. Participants appreciated the chance not only to learn from one another, but to problem-solve together and build relationships that will support long-term systems change. This gathering reinforced an important truth at the center of our work as a regional intermediary: transforming schools is not about isolated programs. It is about building systems, relationships, and experiences that allow every student to see a future for themselves. 

Moving Forward Together 

The Innovation in Action Learning Exchange was not about arriving at final answers. It was about creating space for educators, students, districts, and community partners to learn together and move the work forward collectively. 

Through its leadership as an intermediary, convening cross sector partnerships and advancing our organization’s vision, CTE Foundation continues to help create opportunities for schools across Sonoma County to learn from one another, innovate together, and center student experience in every conversation. 

The future of education is being built right here in Sonoma County.