The University of Colorado will work with Peak Education, a Colorado Springs-area nonprofit that received $50,000 from the Opportunity Now Colorado Planning Grant, to address the educator workforce shortage.
Opportunity Now Colorado is an $85 million grant program transforming Colorado's workforce. As a grant initiative of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), the program seeks innovative solutions to meet Colorado's workforce needs through collaboration between industry and education.
Through this grant, Peak Education will bring together multiple organizations in the education sector, including CC, Teach for America, Harrison School District 2, Colorado Springs School District 11, and the Southeastern Colorado Cooperative Educational Services Board (SEBOCES) to Eliminate the educator shortage in the workforce and intentionally place education students into career opportunities within the state.
“This planning grant is a vote of confidence from Peak Education from the state of Colorado and our esteemed partners in jointly addressing the education workforce shortage,” said Carlos Jimenez, CEO of Peak Education. I am.
“What CC wants to do here is to be a ‘thinking partner,’” added CC education professor Mike Taber. We need to think about all the barriers faced by those who want to become teachers in Colorado. ”
Part of that effort includes creating plans to help students begin working toward qualifications to join the educational pipeline while still in high school, and providing mentorship support throughout their college years. It will be.
“We start with kids who have a passion for wanting to be teachers,” Taber said. “When educators can collaborate with young people, something happens. If one out of 10 people thinks, 'This is interesting,' then we've solved the problem.” We don't provide enough such opportunities. Students need mentors and opportunities to be mentored. CC is well positioned due to the Stroud Scholars Program, which works with pre-college teens. ”
CC students are also doing it. field research A rural ranching region of southeastern Colorado consisting of Springfield, Campo, Pritchett, Eads, and several other BOCES communities. “We spent time together there society and human behavior The class and the students communicated so well with the school children that some of them were crying when it was time to go home,” Taber said. “Opportunities like this open the door to the possibility of becoming a teacher. How else can we open the door to higher education for these students, whether they come to CC or not?” Is that okay?”
This grant will also help CC and other Peak Education partners build new educator pathways and apprenticeships in southern Colorado to increase graduation rates and build fast-track pathways into the education field for future educators. It will be possible to create a program. The organization identifies and implements innovative solutions, such as increasing educator pay through philanthropic support, providing differentiated housing options, and creating more flexible instructional models.
“Our goal is to bring together the deep expertise of our partners to engage students in conversations about their futures and create off-the-shelf options to provide students interested in educational careers with the support they deserve to succeed. It's a win-win-win for the students, the institution, and the community,” Jimenez said.
From the grant application:
The CC provides equipment support for conferences, provides representation on planning committees, provides support with learner-centered input in the solution design process, and provides industry support in the community to enhance solution outcomes. Provides insight into needs/opportunities. We will also work to create educational programs that can support learners and potential future Pathway participants to obtain qualifications, certificates and teaching licensure. They leverage their close relationships with rural school districts in southern Colorado, allowing them to develop effective plans to address their workforce needs.
For more information about CC, Master of Education Program, click here.
