Kathy D’Antoni, Ed.D., a lifelong educator and statewide education administrator in West Virginia, shares her experiences working with simulated workplace programs in in West Virginia schools. She highlights evidence suggesting that education should move from a compliance model that allows adults to more easily manage the system to a system focused on student engagement and empowerment. She suggests common sense student-centered changes to the school culture to empower students and uplift tomorrows. Dr. Kathy D’Antoni recently retired from the West Virginia Department of Education. During her tenure, she served as the Associate State Superintendent of Schools and an Assistant State Superintendent, and served on the Governor’s Workforce Council, Council for Community College System, Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse, Prevention and Treatment, and Southern Regional Education Board committees. She is also former Vice Chancellor of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education. Dr. D’Antoni has worked extensively with curriculum alignment, curriculum development, workforce development, and economic development projects including the national and international award-winning innovative Simulated Workplace initiative, which was selected in 2020 as a top education innovation initiative by Finland’s HundrED.org She has authored articles and books on effective transition practices from public schools to higher education and education‘s role in the economy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx