The atmosphere inside the high school in Nashville, Tennessee, caught Muskegon Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Cortez off guard.
“Where are all the cell phones?” he asked a high school student while touring the campus.
The response was just as surprising.
“We were so divided by COVID, talking to each other electronically,” the student told him. “When we came back, we, as a student body, made the decision that we’re going to talk face-to-face from now on.”
For Cortez, that moment was a revelation. It was a model where students were fully engaged in learning, driven by purpose, and preparing for their futures.
Now, Muskegon Public Schools (MPS) is bringing that model home.
The district has been designated a Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL) community, making it only the fourth district in the state, and the first along the Lakeshore, to earn this recognition.
The goal of Ford NGL is to create a sweeping transformation aimed at rethinking how students learn, centering education around career pathways, and ensuring that every graduate is ready for life beyond high school.
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Courtesy MPSMuskegon Public Schools has worked with the community to become a Ford Next Generation Learning district.
Reaching every student
For decades, Muskegon, like many districts, relied on a traditional education model. In this one-size-fits-all system, students were required to learn in the style that teachers taught, with a select few accessing specialized career programs through countywide technical education centers.
But the problem, says Cortez, is that the current system only works for a fraction of students.
“I get about 90 seats for career technical education, but I have 1,000 kids in my high school,” he says. “Our new model isn’t just for some or most. It serves all students, all families.”
MPS’s solution is the Innovation Academies of Muskegon Public Schools (I AM), a new model that connects every student with career-focused pathways beginning in pre-kindergarten and continuing through high school graduation.
“When each student graduates, they know what they will be doing the Monday morning after graduation,” Cortez says.
The shift means students won’t just be learning core subjects — they will be gaining hands-on experience, connecting with industry mentors, and building real-world skills before they leave high school.
MPS isn’t making this shift alone. Over the past two years, the district has worked with more than 80 community partners, including Goodwill Industries of West Michigan, local employers, and higher education institutions, to design a system that reflects the needs of both students and the local workforce.
“Shifting the learning focus into the community, and allowing students the opportunity to gain valuable exposure to in-demand careers, will benefit the entire Muskegon community,” says Kristin Garris, Goodwill Industries of West Michigan’s chief workforce officer.
“Everybody wins when students have a clear pathway to sustaining work and when the community takes them into the workforce with the confidence that they are ready.”
Shaping own futures
As part of the Ford NGL transformation, MPS is creating a Convening Council, a permanent network linking the district with business leaders, nonprofits, and educators. The council is led by GoodWill Industries and includes the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce, Muskegon YMCA, United Way of the Lakeshore, and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.
The goal? To keep learning relevant and aligned with real opportunities in the region.
Cortez says the shift isn’t just about academics, it’s about empowering students to take ownership of their futures.
“In 28 years as an educator, this is the first time that I’ve seen a model that truly lives up to the idea of putting students first,” he says.
The shift is inspired by successful programs in Nashville and Center Line, Michigan, where students choose specialized career academies starting in 10th grade.
“When I visited these schools, I saw students, socially, economically, and racially diverse, living into their purpose,” Cortez says. “They could actually describe their future plans to me, and it wasn’t just an idea. It was real.”
Smaller settings
The I AM model will break large high schools into smaller, career-focused learning communities, making learning more personalized and engaging.
That approach has already proven successful in Muskegon’s alternative high school, MCEC, which serves about 100 students.
“We’ve seen incredible success with students in that smaller setting,” Cortez says. “Now, we’re applying that approach to all students, making sure everyone gets the support they need.”
Muskegon’s transformation has now earned national recognition. Ford NGL communities across the world have seen higher graduation rates, increased academic achievement, and better workforce outcomes, and MPS aims to be next.
“We are delighted to welcome Muskegon Public Schools to the Ford Next Generation Learning Family,” says Cheryl Carrier, executive director of Ford NGL. “By engaging with local industry and community partners, students gain real-world insights and a clearer vision for their future.”
MPS will officially celebrate its Ford NGL designation on April 16 with an event bringing together students, educators, and community partners.
“We’re not just preparing students to graduate,” he says. “We’re preparing them to succeed, to thrive, and to find their purpose.”