Lake Elementary: Focused on Universal Design for Deep Learning through RIASEC

Lake Elementary is diving deeper into implementing tools to increase rigor and relevance for student learning through career-connected language, tying student interests to the world of work! While this happens through Project-Based Learning at Lake, another primary tool that has elevated our practice is an assessment called RIASEC, Thanks to its success, the school has expanded the program across all grade levels. RIASEC is a model of six career-interest types (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional) used to match personalities with work environments. RIASEC is also known as ‘John Holland's Six Types of Personality’.

RIASEC has been used as a career assessment tool for adults for decades, but has recently been introduced into schools. Lake Principal Dr. Davina Stringer was familiar with the assessment, having experienced it as part of her VUSD interview process, and has enjoyed seeing Lake implement the tool over the past two years.

The objective of the RIASEC model at Lake is to use a common vocabulary with students that helps connect their individual interests and skills with the content standards they are learning in school. When students see themselves and each other connect academic content to potential career paths in the world of work, the learning is enhanced as deep learning that sticks! The program has been facilitated in VUSD schools by RIASEC consultant Ed Hidalgo and Dr. Eric Chagala, Vista USD’s Assistant Superintendent for Educational Excellence & Innovation.

Hidalgo, a former Human Resources leader at Qualcomm, was instrumental in forging connections between the company and schools across San Diego County via Qualcomm’s Think-a-bit Lab.

Implementing tools includes coaching and equipping teachers and staff to integrate career language so that students experience a consistent language throughout their time at Lake Elementary.

Dr. Stringer explains how the initiative has progressed: “Last year, we started with Ed Hidalgo coming in and working alongside pioneering teachers who, despite being unfamiliar with RIASEC, offered to try it. “It went really well, and as other teachers observed the implementation happening in the pioneering classrooms, additional grade levels invited Ed Hidalgo to help them implement. Like Legos, we stacked the grades from 5th to Kinder with RIASEC opportunities at their levels!”

RIASEC integrates seamlessly with Project-Based Learning and Universal Design for Deep Learning, providing opportunities for students to utilize all of the skills and resources across the school’s initiatives.

“The goal of our Deep Learning Team is to build the capacity for Career Connected Language as a through-line in our PBLs, as we work toward alignment across all grades!” says Dr. Stringer. “Our hope is to also grow opportunities for community partnerships, as our families better understand the value and importance of connecting their children to opportunities beyond school that can further cultivate their children’s inherent interests. These are imperative foundational opportunities to build pathways for secondary and post-secondary success!”

Dr. Stringer goes on to explain the impact of introducing RAISEC’s language to the youngest grades: “It can be tough, as our kindergarten classes are big and teachers have so much on their plates already. Some kids love the structure and order of school, and some kids would if they could, but they just can't because the fundamental design of school makes it hard for them.

“RIASEC helps by giving kids who are maybe a little more disengaged the feeling of ‘this is actually about me. Or if it's not about me, it's about my peer here, and I really like them, and I see how we could work together differently.’”

Hidalgo leads the introduction session of RAISEC for every class, which includes students self-assessing to determine their top 3 RIASEC interest letters. Teachers extend with content connections. This is followed up by the Educational Excellence & Instruction department delivering posters and materials so that the teachers have the right resources to continue implementation.
In follow-up sessions, Ed and the teachers may implement r 10 and 2s where teachers instruct for 10 minutes, and then they let Ed weave in for two minutes. Flexible extensions such as co-teaching lessons are exciting opportunities for all,” says Dr. Stringer.

Lake’s teachers/Instructional Coaches, Catherine Worrell and Ronaele Muter, help ensure continuity with deep learning. They facilitate inquiry cycles with teams and at the end of the year, teams share how things went, how their work benefited students, and areas they want to tweak or improve for the next cycle.

Another important connection to RIASEC is tied to the most important work with students who may not be engaged or who have high risks because of multiple factors that are outside of our control. ,” says Dr. Stringer.

“Every single child has an academic goal. We talk about those goals and let them know we are excited for their progress. Knowing how to connect their top three RIASEC interests to their academic goal and progress helps with coaching and encouraging our striving students.”

The school is also holding a workshop in January 2026 to teach parents about RIASEC and all of the resources being used by their children. Field trips are also planned, including fifth graders going to Cal State San Marcos to further connect students to pathways and the world of work. “It’s amazing that students are going to see a local college site in elementary [school],” concludes Dr. Stringer. Fifth grade is exactly when these pathway experiences need to begin. It’s all very exciting!”