From Survival to Thriving: How "Agility by Design" is Powering DC’s Workforce
Carlos Rosario Nurse Aide Training (NAT) program students.
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and we invited one of our charter schools to share how its diverse programs, including CTE pathways, are equipping students with real-world skills and transforming lives across the city.
Allison R. Kokkoros
CEO, Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School
What is the true difference between a job and a career? For many in our Washington, D.C. community, it is the fundamental shift from merely surviving to thriving through a career path that offers family-sustaining wages. At the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, we provide a bridge to economic mobility for adult learners through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs designed to meet the evolving demands of a 21st-century economy.
Agility by Design: A Model for Success
Our programs are built on a philosophy of "Agility by Design." This means we work backward from what regional employers are actually hiring for. By utilizing thoughtful sectoral analyses and active Employer Advisory Committees, we ensure our curriculum is nimble and industry-aligned.
We are highly selective about our offerings, focusing exclusively on high-growth, high-demand sectors with opportunities for career growth and family-sustaining wages. This responsiveness is seen in our 2025 expansion of our Nurse Aide Training (NAT) program. In partnership with DC Health, we have doubled our capacity to address the District's critical shortfall of allied health professionals, adding an intensive track and stipends to remove financial barriers for our learners.
Replicating the Real World
Strength in design only matters if it translates into confidence in the workplace for our learners and alumni. Our programs replicate real-world environments so students can practice essential skills before they ever step into a job.
Culinary Arts: In the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Culinary Labs and our on-site Emilia’s Bistro, students practice both their “back of the house” and “front of the house” skills, managing budgets, designing menus, taking orders, and serving the very food they prepare.
Healthcare: Learners use our on-campus practice lab to master taking vital signs and providing compassionate bodily care, and complete clinical practice hours at the Washington Hospital Center.
Information Technology: Learners engage in practical exercises that build the technical expertise required for high-level IT certifications.
Bilingual Teacher Assistant Training: Learners participate in 200 hours of combined classroom instruction and a practicum in a K-12 setting (DCPS or DC charter school), working with students under the supervision of a teacher.
Holistic Support: The Three-Pronged Approach
We recognize that our learners—who come from 80 different countries and speak 30 languages—often face significant life stressors. Our success is rooted in a three-pronged approach:
Foundational skills (like ESL, GED, and digital literacy),
Specialized CTE training, and
Comprehensive student support services
From navigating transportation subsidies to accessing emergency funds and trauma-informed care, we wrap our students in an environment of love and respect that affirms every day that yes, you CAN, or in the words of Cesar Chavez, "Sí, se puede!"
The Impact in Numbers and Stories
The data reflects our commitment to excellence: On average, 92% of our career training learners earned their certifications each year. Behind that percentage are people like Erick Quinteros. Erick arrived from El Salvador, afraid to leave his home due to a language barrier. After completing our ESL and Bilingual Paraeducator programs, and working initially as a teacher’s assistant, he earned a Master’s degree and now serves as a third-grade teacher for DCPS. Similarly, Josephine transitioned from our Nurse Aide program into a career as a Registered Nurse in the ICU at Washington Hospital Center, describing Carlos Rosario as the place that taught her to achieve her dreams "step by step".
| Metric | Impact at a Glance |
|---|---|
| Certifications | 92% annual certification rate for CTE learners |
| Reach | 2,000+ learners served across all eight DC wards |
| Experience | 40+ years of effective career training expertise |
Building DC’s Future
Adult charter schools are a vital engine of the District’s economy. “When you support adult charter schools like Carlos Rosario, you are building DC’s workforce, strengthening families, and creating the future leaders of our city.” — Erick Quinteros, Graduate
Click here to learn more about the Carlos Rosario School.
