On Career High by Pega6, host Jeremy Smith sits down with Jeff Linden, Principal of Hastings High School in Hastings, Nebraska, to explore what career-connected learning looks like in a practical, community-driven district. Jeff introduces Hastings as a blue-collar town of about 25,000 that supports three high schools, with Hastings High serving as the flagship campus in a district that includes five elementary schools, a middle school, and the high school.
Jeff shares his own leadership journey, from teaching and coaching across multiple Nebraska schools to serving eight years in the Army Reserves, before stepping into the principal role (now in his fourth year at Hastings). From there, he breaks down how Hastings High balances college prep with strong career and technical education, emphasizing that success should not be limited to one “correct” path. While college still matters, Jeff argues that industry careers are booming as baby boomers retire, creating real opportunities for students to earn, advance, and build stable lives—often faster and with less debt.
The conversation highlights Hastings High’s growing ecosystem of pathways and work-based learning: resume building, job shadowing, job exploration, paid internships, and community partnerships across healthcare, manufacturing, construction, finance, education, and more. Jeff explains how students move through exploration in junior year and into paid internships in senior year, using real experience to confirm what they want, or just as importantly, what they don’t want before spending money on postsecondary training.
Key Moments
06:20 Career Exploration Through Internships
09:25 Career Paths After High School
12:49 Building Education Pathways Early
15:02 "White-Collar Trade School Model"
19:20 "Passion for Free Education"
21:36 Career Pathways and Local Support
25:55 "Smarter Approach to College"
28:41 "PegasTech: College Alternative Launch"
Why You’ll Love This Episode
A grounded, no-hype look at how a real high school builds career pathways that match its local economy while still supporting college-bound students at a high level. You’ll hear what work-based learning actually looks like in practice, how paid internships help students make smarter decisions before taking on debt, and why the future belongs to schools that treat careers as options—not afterthoughts.
Connect with Jeff Linden | Principal, Hastings Public Schools
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-principal-jl
Company Website: https://hastingspublicschools.org/
Follow Us
Career High By Pega6
Host: Jeremy Smith
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyasmith
Pega6 Website: https://www.pega6.com/
Pega6 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pega6/
About Career High By Pega6
Career High is the podcast that spotlights principals transforming high schools into launchpads for real-world success through career-connected learning, industry partnerships, and innovative pathways.
33 min
37 min