Ryan Abramson, a Bucks County-based strategist and Director of Strategic Communications at Penn State Lehigh Valley<\/a>. He is also a consultant and expert at Oakridge Leaders in Langhorne, Bucks County, PA.<\/p>\n\u201cPennsylvania has always been a leader in trade education,\u201d said Abramson. \u201cFrom the industrial roots of Philadelphia to the steel history of Bethlehem and the small businesses across Bucks County, technical training has shaped our economy and our communities. It is time we fully honor that legacy and prepare students for careers that match their skills and passions.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Historic Foundation in Pennsylvania<\/p>\n
Abramson has seen firsthand how opportunities can shape a student\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome students thrive in advanced academic programs, while others excel when they have access to labs, workshops, and apprenticeships,\u201d he explained. \u201cTrade schools are not less than college \u2013 they are parallel tracks toward successful and fulfilling careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania has a proud history of investing in technical training. Philadelphia schools integrated industrial education programs in the early 20th century, and trade education remains strong in the Lehigh Valley. Bucks County has also embraced programs that provide practical skills in areas such as construction, automotive technology, healthcare, and information systems.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s Workforce Needs<\/p>\n
Across the nation, industries are sounding alarms about the shortage of skilled workers. Pennsylvania employers, from Erie to the Poconos, report difficulty filling positions in plumbing, electrical work, welding, healthcare technology, and IT. Central Pennsylvania trade schools are already reporting record enrollment as young people discover the advantages of hands-on career preparation.<\/p>\n
Abramson believes that momentum must be nurtured. \u201cIf we want strong local economies, we need to show students and parents that trade careers are honorable, lucrative, and critical to our country\u2019s success,\u201d he said. \u201cThat begins with access to high-quality programs in every district.\u201d<\/p>\n
Equal, Not Secondary<\/p>\n
Abramson stresses that technical education should never be framed as a fallback option.<\/p>\n
\u201cCareer and technical education is not a Plan B,\u201d Abramson emphasized. \u201cIt is a Plan A for students who want to build, design, repair, and innovate with their hands and minds. Just as a student may dream of attending Penn State University, another may dream of becoming a master electrician or healthcare technician. Both deserve respect.\u201d<\/p>\n
By rethinking how trade education is presented, Abramson hopes to dismantle outdated stigmas that suggest college is the only path to success.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania\u2019s Role in Leading the Way<\/p>\n
As home to both rich academic traditions and strong trade roots, Pennsylvania has the chance to lead the nation in creating balanced education pathways.<\/p>\n
Abramson and Oakridge Leaders are advocating for closer partnerships between schools, businesses, and policymakers. By linking CTE programs to real-world employers in Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, and Bucks County, students can graduate with both credentials and confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next generation will rebuild infrastructure, advance clean energy, and support growing industries,\u201d Abramson said. \u201cWe must invest now to ensure Pennsylvania\u2019s students are ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
About Ryan Abramson and Penn State Lehigh Valley<\/p>\n
Ryan Abramson is the Director of Strategic Communication at Penn State Lehigh Valley, public speaker, and longtime education advocate. <\/p>\n
For more up-to-the-minute stories, follow Ryan Abramson on X<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Updated and refreshed, November 2025 Ryan Abramson, a Bucks County-based strategist and Director of Strategic Communications at Penn…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35955,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[22315,22316,227,5439,18607,1718,28,30,29,22317,22314,22313,5694],"class_list":["post-35954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pennsylvania","tag-abramson","tag-calls","tag-education","tag-for","tag-in","tag-investment","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania-headlines","tag-pennsylvania-news","tag-renewed","tag-ryan","tag-strategist","tag-trade"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35954"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35954\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}