Summary
How do we find tomorrow’s geospatial professionals today? The answer lies in “backwards mapping” industry requirements directly into our K-12 classrooms.
Join the author and presenter for a deep dive into Geospatial Approaches and Careers, a curriculum passion project designed to bridge the gap between foundational education and professional practice. This session demonstrates how to scaffold high-level GIS workforce standards—such as executive briefing and professional data evaluation—into developmentally appropriate experiences for students starting as early as 4th grade.
By integrating interdisciplinary standards with geospatial thinking, technology, and advocacy, this framework prepares students to move from classroom learners to industry-ready analysts. Attendees will explore a 4-12 pipeline that connects NGSS, C3 Framework, and AP Human Geography skills to the missions of agencies like the Department of Homeland Security.
Whether you are a classroom teacher, a school leader, or a policy broker, you are invited to explore these possibilities and discuss strategies for implementation in your own learning community.
Attendee Take-away: Participants will receive a digital “Geospatial Career Readiness Toolkit,” featuring the full curriculum draft, the Parkdale GIS Graphic Organizer, and the Professional Executive Brief Rubric.
How can we bridge the gap between classroom geography and the high-demand geospatial workforce? This session introduces a modular consultancy model derived from the Geospatial Approaches and Careers project. Rather than a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum, this model offers a “backwards-mapped” framework that allows educational leaders to implement geospatial career pathways in part or in whole, depending on their local resources and goals.
The presenter will demonstrate how to adapt industry-standard requirements—such as Executive Briefing and GIS Data Evaluation—for diverse settings, including elementary enrichment, middle school STEM modules, and high school CTE programs. We will explore how these “pluggable” units align with NGSS, C3, and APHG standards to create a professional pipeline that is both developmentally appropriate and industry-aligned.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Geospatial Technology, Human and Cultural Geography, & Geography for Life| Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Robins Family Forum Theater
Meet the Presenter
Daniel Joseph Whalen is an educational leader with a 22-year career dedicated to fostering student engagement and spatial literacy. Currently serving as an Assistant Principal in Las Vegas, New Mexico, his passion for geography is deeply rooted in his own diverse geographic upbringing—from the industrial heart of Pittsburgh to the close-knit, multi-generational farming villages of upstate New York. Holding a BA in History from SUNY Albany and an MA in Educational Leadership from The George Washington University, Daniel brings a profound understanding of how community, environment, and a “sense of place” shape student identity and achievement.
Over his 18-year tenure with Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, Daniel became a driving force in geographic and spatial science education. He spent a decade in the classroom teaching AP Human Geography and was instrumental in shaping the district’s instructional framework, including co-authoring the AP Human Geography elective curriculum. Recognizing the critical importance of geospatial technologies, he later transitioned into Career and Technical Education (CTE). In this capacity, he pioneered pathways for students by developing and teaching comprehensive curricula for Homeland Security Science, Digital Cartography, and Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
A dedicated advocate for geographic education at the national level, Daniel is thrilled to connect with fellow educators and leaders at the National Council for Geographic Education annual conference. He brings a wealth of assessment and mentorship experience to the geography community, having served as an AP Human Geography Reader since 2009 and a College Board Table Leader since 2023. As a Certified Geospatial Educator (GeoEdC) and a 2018-2019 American Geographic Society Fellow, Daniel has consistently championed spatial education, supported by his leadership as Treasurer of the Maryland Geographic Alliance and his history of presenting on GIS integration at previous NCGE and Towson University conferences.
Today, Daniel applies his geographer’s lens to school-wide administration, guiding educators to build innovative CTE pathways to graduation. In his administrative roles, he integrates character education and community-specific values into the curriculum—equipping students not just for the global workforce, but to lead and serve locally in Meadow City. Whether developing school-wide instructional strategies or serving as the energetic “SportsCenter” voice celebrating student milestones, Daniel remains fiercely committed to elevating expectations, celebrating student success, and expanding access to high-quality geographic education.
