Students with a background in manufacturing are most prepared for any job in the technical trades.
That’s what we learned from veteran manufacturers-turned educators John Kim and Cesar Gutierrez. We also hear from Gutierrez’s students, Patrick and Alfredo.
Additionally, we gain industry insights from Scott Springer of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools (https://hftforschools.org).
The webinar is a fantastic primer to encourage students to explore the manufacturing industry.
ASL provided.
Author: Danny Rubin
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Dream Job Ep. 101: Manufacturer
Students with a background in manufacturing are most prepared for any job in the technical trades.<b…
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New Mexico Teacher and Students Give High Mark for Rubin Spark
When Rubin Spark came on the scene in March 2026, Gary Grammer and his students in Las Cruces, New Mexico were among the first people to give the product a test drive.
Spark is a platform for simulated conversation with professionals in all CTE pathways. Scenarios include a “day in the life” discussion and mock interview.
Grammer said his students took to Spark immediately and enjoyed the free-flow nature of the conversations. The AI-generated “Spark mentors” ask probing questions and take the students deep into the particular field.
Listen to Grammer’s comments below and then book a demo to experience Spark for yourself!
The edtech students expect and value.
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Rubin Public Speaking Lessons Help 3 Students Win 1st Place at State Competition
Rubin instructional resources are designed to be practical and easy to apply in the real world.
For proof, look no further than the 2026 Mississippi HOSA state conference, which took place March 4-6 in Hattiesburg. Over the three days, students compete in categories around health education, medical knowledge and leadership skills.
Three students from Connie Rolison’s HOSA chapter in Biloxi each won 1st place in their respective categories: Health Education, Health Career Display and Medical Innovations. The students will now vie for national honors in June at the HOSA International Leadership Conference.
Rolison believes Rubin’s public speaking curriculum gave her students an edge, as all three competitive events require a formal speech before judges. Rolison integrates Rubin into Google Classroom, and her students access the lessons without a traditional password.
Listen to Rolison discuss her experience with Rubin and the triple win at the state level!
Apply Rubin lessons = Win.
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Dream Job Ep. 100: International Logistics Manager
Global trade. Dozens of countries and languages. Critical cargo that must arrive on time.
Think communication skills matter? You bet.
We learned about the importance of strong writing and speaking skills throughout our 100th (!) Dream Job conversation.
Our special thanks to Rachel Shames of CV International for explaining international logistics and how the US imports and exports goods every day.
ASL provided.Global trade. Dozens of countries and languages. Critical cargo that must arrive on time.
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Dream Job Ep. 99: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
When an EMT arrives to treat a patient, the person needs more than life-saving medical knowledge.
An EMT must also communicate — calmly — with the patient, others at the scene (ex: friend, spouse) and medical professionals.
Medical skills and communication skills are critical to provide care and, perhaps, save a person’s life.
Our thanks to David Blevins, an experienced EMT and EMT educator, for his time in our latest Dream Job webinar.
ASL provided.When an EMT arrives to treat a patient, the person needs more than life-saving medical knowledge.<br…
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Rubin Leads Workshops, Connects with Teachers at Regional CTE Event in NOVA
Thanks for having us, i2i!
On March 11 and 12, we participated in i2i (Instruction to Industry), a regional CTE event hosted by school districts across Northern Virginia.
Our founder, Danny Rubin, led networking workshops for students throughout the day. And we caught up with teachers and administrators from districts that use Rubin lessons in the classroom.
In the photos, Danny speaks with students about the power of research before a networking meeting. He also smiles with Darin Snoots, a CTE teacher from Prince William County Schools.
Lending our support for a signature event.
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Rubin Announces National Finalists in 2026 America’s Next Great Intern Contest
A student will soon be named America’s Next Great Intern. After reviewing more than 280 submissions from across the country, Rubin has chosen 16 finalists who showcase the communication and critical-thinking skills essential in any internship.
Now the nation will vote, and the 1st place student will win a $1,000 scholarship. Second places receives a $500 scholarship.
Rubin, the leader in online curriculum for employability and workplace readiness skills, hosts the competition.
Demand for interns and job applicants with “soft skills” remains a top priority across all industry sectors. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers consistently rank communication, teamwork, and critical thinking among the most sought-after qualities in new hires.
The submission period for the America’s Next Great Intern contest ran throughout February 2026, which is National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. All middle school, high school, and post-secondary CTE students were eligible.
The instructions were drawn from Rubin’s Emerge curriculum, a broad library of online exercises for employability skills like email/phone etiquette, job interview prep, LinkedIn communication, and more. Rubin provides Emerge to CTE programs nationwide.This year’s contest featured three categories:
1. Professional Email:Students wrote a professional email applying for a summer internship at a fictional company, FutureProof, addressed to hiring manager Ms. Amy Walker.
2. Research & Critical Thinking:Students prepared two thoughtful questions for NBA EVP Scott Kaufman-Ross based on videos from the Rubin Aspire career exploration video series.
3. Ethical Dilemma:Students responded in writing to a workplace ethics scenario involving a social media marketing dilemma.
Rubin encourages the public to vote on the national finalists at rubineducation.com. Winners will be announced on April 15, 2026. The middle school overall winner will be announced at that time as well.
“Employers often lament that students don’t possess the ‘soft skills’ necessary to engage in an office setting or on the job site,” says Danny Rubin, founder of Rubin. “For the fourth-year running, this contest demonstrates that motivated young people coast to coast are ready to add real value to any business or organization.”
2026 America’s Next Great Intern National Finalists
(listed alphabetically by last name)
Elrad Asante
12th Grade
Blaine High School
Anoka-Hennepin School District
Blaine, MN
Teacher: Ms. Holly Boisjolie
Kate Basa
12th Grade
Nacogdoches High School
Nacogdoches ISD
Nacogdoches, TX
Teacher: Ms. Anna-Lisa Wanack
Samuel Cason
PWCS Explore Program (Post-Secondary)
Prince William County Schools
Manassas, VA
Teacher: Ms. Erika Picard
Delaney Good
12th Grade
Boone High School
Boone Community School District
Boone, IA
Teacher: Ms. Bozz Bossard
Iden Guitron
11th Grade
Mid-Del Technology Center
Mid-Del School District
Midwest City, OK
Teacher: Ms. Christine Corbin
Micah Kennedy
12th Grade
Thomas A. Edison CTE High School
NYC Department of Education
New York, NY
Teacher: Mrs. Sandra Cruz
Kennedi Maddox
10th Grade
Central High School
Pike County Board of Education
Brundidge, AL
Teacher: Ms. Valerie Thornton
Carlos Mateo
12th Grade
Allen Village School
Allen Village School
Kansas City, MO
Teacher: Dr. Terri Redden
Liam McCarthy
11th Grade
Western Guilford High School
Guilford County Schools
Greensboro, NC
Teacher: Jeffrey Silverthorne
Gopal Reddy Nallamilli
9th Grade
Cox Mill High School
Cabarrus County Schools
Concord, NC
Teacher: Ms. Shauna Ward
Jewelyssa Ortega
11th Grade
Mayfield High School
Las Cruces Public Schools
Las Cruces, NM
Teacher: Gary Grammer
Om Panemangalore
11th Grade
Rick Reedy High School
Frisco ISD
Frisco, TX
Teacher: Ms. Bossard
Owen Smith
9th Grade
South Career and Technical Academy
Clark County School District
Las Vegas, NV
Teacher: Mrs. Corbin
Rhiannon Stowe
12th Grade
Lord Botetourt High School
Botetourt County Public Schools
Daleville, VA
Teacher: Ms. Katrina Kish
Reghan Williamson
12th Grade
Randall K. Cooper High School
Randall K. Cooper High School
Union, KY
Teacher: Ms. Caylen Knight
Nashawn Wimberly
9th Grade
Opelika High School
Opelika City Schools
Opelika, AL
Teacher: Mrs. Anglin
A student will soon be named America’s Next Great Intern. After reviewing more than 280 submissions from across the country, Rubin has chosen 16 finalists who showcase the communication and critical-thinking skills essential in any internship. Now the nation will vote, and the 1st place student will win a $1,000 scholarship. Second places receives a…
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Dream Job Ep. 98: Fundraising Professional
Listen to our insightful Dream Job conversation with Victoria Dietz, founder and CEO of Empower Charitable.
Victoria and her team partner with nonprofits to deliver strategic fundraising, capital campaign management and hands-on nonprofit training.
We also discuss the power of thoughtfulness to leave a lasting impression on clients and donors.
ASL provided.Listen to our insightful Dream Job conversation with Victoria Dietz, founder and CEO of Empower Char…
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Introducing Rubin Spark: On-Demand, Simulated Career Conversations
The world of career exploration will never be the same.
Introducing Spark, the latest creation from Rubin that allows students to hold simulated conversations across dozens of career pathways. We incorporated jobs in the National Career Clusters® Framework from Advance CTE to build a library of on-demand, AI-powered conversations that begin after a few clicks.
We are excited at the potential for Spark in the CTE community, workforce development and other audiences that connect learners with career opportunities.
Watch the video and then “Book a Demo” at the top of the page to experience Spark yourself!
The world of career exploration will never be the same. Introducing Spark, the latest creation from Rubin that allows students to hold simulated conversations across dozens of career pathways. We incorporated jobs in the National Career Clusters® Framework from Advance CTE to build a library of on-demand, AI-powered conversations that begin after a few clicks.…
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Rubin Engages with Students, Teachers at Johnston County (NC) Career Day
A room full of employers waiting to meet with students at tables in a community college atrium.
That was the scene on Wednesday, February 18 in Johnston County, North Carolina for the annual JOCO WORKS PRO. The event allows students to practice interview skills through the help of dozens of local business professionals.
The Rubin team was on hand to provide networking advice to students and show support for Johnston County Public Schools, which incorporates Rubin products into CTE classes at the middle and high school levels.
Thank you for having us, JCPS! Below are highlights from the day.
Rubin Founder Danny Rubin stands with Irma Bode from Johnston County Public Schools and Danielle Kroeger from Johnston County Community College, the event host. Rubin Founder Danny Rubin shares networking advice with JCPS students before they sit for mock interviews. Prepping for mock interviews.