Jackie Gilbert of Virtual Learning Academy pairs a steady cadence of private Live Work-Based Learning (WBL) sessions with a local mentor pipeline — so students meet professionals live and keep learning through virtual job shadows and micro-internships.

“We offer 2–3 private sessions for our school each week. We have found success in recruiting presenters local to our school and partnering with them through a mentorship program. Professionals present through Pathful about their careers, and then mentor students via virtual job shadows and micro-internships.”

Why it works

Local presenters boost relevance and access; a built-in mentorship path turns a single live session into sustained, skills-based practice. When local capacity is limited, Industry-Led Projects provide a turnkey, mentor-designed alternative with a similar “learn → do → reflect” structure.

How to try it

• Start local: if you're still building your network, we will find the professionals for you — or recruit nearby professionals (alumni, employers, workforce partners) aligned to your pathways.
• Set a cadence: aim for one private Live WBL session every week or two to start, rotating industries so every pathway gets airtime.
• Add continuity: after each session, assign a virtual job shadow and, where available, a micro-internship-style mini project with a short mentor check-in.
• Scale with Industry-Led Projects: choose one that matches your pathway to deliver a ready-made, real-world brief with clear deliverables.
• Show progress with Experience Tracker: log sessions, hours, competencies, artifacts, and reflections to build verified records and exportable reports for portfolios and CTE documentation.

🤝 Want to help fellow educators? Share your go-to Pathful strategy for a chance to be featured in Pathful in Practice. Email impact@pathful.com.

Sam Spiegel

Sam Spiegel is a Growth Marketing Specialist for Pathful and a BCLAD-certified educator with a Master's in Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz. As a former elementary school teacher, Sam is now a dedicated and results-oriented EdTech specialist, enjoying the intersection of his passion for education and technology.