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The CTE Collective
Peter Hostrawser
CTE Expert & Educator
Specializations
Areas of Expertise
Student-Centered LearningProgram LeadershipCTE Systems DesignStudent EngagementSchool Culture
Peter Hostrawser
About
Biography
Peter Hostrawser is a nationally recognized educator, speaker, and connector working at the intersection of education, workforce, and community. With more than 23 years in education, he has built and scaled high school business and career internship programs across multiple districts, achieving an average year-over-year growth rate of more than 30 percent while helping thousands of students connect classroom learning to meaningful professional experiences.
Peter currently serves as Career Internship Program Co-Coordinator at Naperville Community Unit School District 203, where he works with local industry partners to design authentic work-based learning opportunities that develop durable skills and real career clarity for students. His work focuses on building ecosystems that connect schools, employers, and communities to create learning experiences that prepare students for the professional world.
He is also the co-host and founder of the Disrupt Education Podcast, alongside Alli Dahl, where he has interviewed hundreds of innovators across education, workforce development, and industry. The show highlights bold ideas that challenge traditional education models and push toward more experiential, skills-driven learning.
Peter is a founding member of the CTE Collective, a growing community of leaders working to amplify the voice and impact of career and technical education. Alongside fellow founding members Sandra Adams, Mark Covelle, Alli Dahl, Chris Nesmith, Jason Van Nus, TJ Vari, and Kristy Volesky, he is helping shape a movement designed to incubate bold ideas, connect practitioners, and grow the field of CTE from within.
At a time when CTE enrollment is surging and workforce demands are rapidly evolving, Peter believes the opportunity ahead is clear: education must move beyond traditional models and embrace real-world, community-connected learning that prepares students not just for graduation, but for contribution.