Redefining Rural - New Episode Alert!
|
|
Working with the Southwestern Colorado Education Collaborative |
|
This month’s episode is focused on innovation and college and career readiness. Hear from Jess Morrison, Allanah Roman, and Krista Kay on their experience with the Southwestern Colorado Education Collaborative and their vision moving forward! Listen to the entire episode and follow Redefining Rural on social media here.
|
|
2nd Annual Redefining Rural Student Scholarship Golf Tournament
July 26th - 10:00 AM MT
|
|
|
|
If you are a golfer who cares about rural students, don’t miss your opportunity to join the effort this year ahead of the CASE Conference!
Keystone Ranch Golf Course | 1239 Keystone Ranch Rd. Keystone, CO 80435
|
|
The CREC Partners with Clayton Christensen Institute to Test Methods for Building Student’s Social Capital |
|
Generation Schools Network (GSN) is excited to announce a new national partnership with the Clayton Christensen Institute. A first for the state of Colorado, the effort will be focused on intentionally growing student social capital as part of increasing student agency in college/career preparation.
The context for social capital building includes either entrepreneurship or real-world-problem-solving scenarios in partnership with a local business. Businesses are encouraged to engage by supporting entrepreneurship fairs or providing real world problem scenarios. For more information about this work, which is supported by a group of local and national funders, and to get involved, contact Vice President of Partnerships, Alison Lauge, or call 440-263-1957.
|
|
College and Career Readiness |
|
I-76 Partnerships for Prosperity Gains Momentum
Over the past year, six districts along the I-76 corridor came together to create a shared College and Career Readiness (CCR) pathway that begins in 4th grade and continues to 12th grade to ensure that all students are college/career ready. This spring, the pathway has gained major traction. Please visit the Colorado School to Work website. To learn more, check-in on the events below to see how you can support their efforts.
|
|
Tools Day at Meadow Ridge Elementary School in Lochbuie, Colorado
Wednesday, April 27th
This is an opportunity for the Pre-K to 2nd Grade Meadow Ridge students to receive hands-on career exploration with the businesses, organizations, and agencies that make up their community. Why start so young? “During the elementary years, students are at a crucial period when career beliefs and aspirations are being developed” (Mariani, Berger, Koerner, & Sandlin, 2016). Weld RE-3J is following recommendations from The National Career Development Association (NCDA) which provides guidelines for elementary school counselors, including three focus areas: a) self-knowledge; b) educational and occupational exploration; and c) career planning.
|
|
|
|
Some examples include:
- Kindergarten students will be able to describe what they like to do;
- First-grade students will be able to identify workers in various settings;
- Second-grade students will be able to describe skills needed to complete a task at home or school;
- Third-grade students will be able to define what the term future means;
- Fourth-grade students will be able to imagine what their lives might be like in the future;
- Fifth-grade students will be able to discuss stereotypes associated with certain jobs;
- Sixth-grade students will be able to identify their own strengths and weaknesses. (Paisley & Hubbard, 1994)
|
|
Please email Sierra Murdoch for more information if you are a business leader that would like to participate.
|
|
Career Fair/Hiring Event -Weld RE3J School District
Wednesday, May 4th
|
|
Weld Central High School invites community members to participate in their Spring Career Fair on Wednesday, May 4. Connecting students to industry professionals is a key component of student success in today’s workforce. Please join us to represent yourself and/or your company to hundreds of students, grades 9-12. Each class of students will have approximately 30 minutes to explore the various career tables. To learn more, contact Elliot Zettas or Gina Angelini.
|
|
|
Hands-On Soft Skills Bootcamp is a Success! |
|
Hundreds of middle and high school students from Brush Secondary and Weldon Valley participated in a Soft Skills Bootcamp on March 31. Students learned about a variety of career readiness skills including non-verbal communication, interview and job skills, commonalities, and active listening from GSN guest speakers Gina Angelini, Darron Dunson, Ellen Sarkisian, and Elliot Zettas. The presenters allowed for strong discourse and hands-on activities for students to practice these new skills on the spot. |
|
|
|
The post-event survey found that students enjoyed the interactive aspects of the presentations, and many students mentioned learning that 55% of communication is non-verbal communication and recognized how that may impact their future communication. |
|
I-76 Pathway RealWorld Problem Scenario |
|
Tyler DeVries, CEO of Adventure Colorado Tours led Brush High School students through a real world problem scenario around marketing, social media strategy, and customer acquisition related to expanding his outdoor tour business. Students learned about how to develop social media plans and increase social media interaction to drive customer traffic. Students then created a series of posts used by Adventure Colorado Tours social media accounts. Do you know of a business that has a real world problem students can help to solve? Contact Elliot Zettas, Senior Manager of College and Career Readiness at Generation Schools Network.
|
|
Social Emotional Learning & Students At-Risk |
|
Project Heal - Summer Program for K-12 School Administrators, Staff & Teachers
June 20th – 24th & July 11th – 15th, 9 am-5 pm
455 Sherman St, Denver, CO 80203
|
|
In response to ongoing school and district challenges to better support student social, emotional, and mental health, Generation Schools Network and the Colorado Rural Education Collaborative have partnered with Dr. Debra Sandella from the RIM Institute to deliver training to school staff. Project Heal responds to magnified student and staff mental health needs during the pandemic.
Several rural school/district members are utilizing various funding sources to better equip their staff to support the whole student. A monthly professional learning community will also be provided for participating school staff, leadership, and teachers throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
|
|
Participants will learn why students struggle with Executive Functioning. We’ll also engage in activities that you can implement with your students. Finally, we’ll explore instructional resources that help young learners develop skills and support their Executive Functioning strategies. Sign Up!
For other SEL topics, from addressing substance misuse to restorative practices and growth mindset, visit our forum library here.
|
|
|
STEM Festival at Fort Morgan Middle School
May 12th and 13th
|
|
Morgan Community College will host an interactive STEM Festival for 750 Fort Morgan Middle School students. If you are a STEM professional that can host a booth and share about your STEM career and fields (technologist, veterinarian, etc.), please contact Gina Angelini.
|
|
Student-Centered Accountability and Reporting |
|
Student-Centered Reporting Solution Website Launched |
|
The Student-Centered Reporting Solution is a homegrown technology solution that currently serves districts across Colorado and beyond, bringing together education leaders, researchers, policymakers, technology funders, and programmers to remove persistent barriers to addressing equity in education. This grassroots effort leverages the national community of over 11,900 districts in 32 states using the Ed-Fi data standard, creating insightful and timely reports that can be used to engage the local community and achieve equitable, student-centered teaching and learning. Learn more at studentcenteredreporting.org
|
|
|
|
Colorado Statewide Principal Professional Learning Community (PLC)
Monday, May 16th, 9:00-10:00 AM
|
Generation Schools Network and the Colorado Rural Education Collaborative have come together to provide a 60-minute, monthly Principal PLC to learn from one another and connect principals across the state. Join dozens of leaders each month to discuss topics that align with the school calendar as well as have opportunities to consider ideas to advance your efforts around Family Engagement Strategies, College and Career Readiness, STEM, and more!
Have a topic you would appreciate putting forward for problem-solving or gaining collective wisdom? Let Olivia Bachicha or Kirk Banghart know!
|
|
Teacher Recruitment & Retention |
|
Post your job openings for 2021-22! |
|
The CREC advertises job openings on the CREC website and through a monthly job openings e-blast that goes out to more than 100 agencies and higher education institutions, giving your postings a wider audience! This is a great opportunity for our members to bring future educators into the amazing rural communities of Colorado!
To view our job board, click here.
|
|
Congratulations to CREC CDE Grant Winners! |
|
School Nurse Workforce Grant
Our schools are struggling to attract and retain staff, and our health systems are struggling to attract and retain nurses. When it comes to rural school nurses, the challenge can seem insurmountable. Thankfully, with funds from CDE’s School Nurse Workforce Grant, GSN will be coming alongside Hanover and Mancos school districts to recruit school nurses by offering more competitive wages and designing nurse-led health initiatives that will help them feel fulfilled and effective in their roles. Ultimately, with well-equipped school nurses in place, student health and academic outcomes in rural parts of the state will improve.
Student Re-engagement Grant
The long-term effects of the pandemic continue to play out in our classrooms, with more and more students disengaging from school. Through funding from CDE’s Student Re-engagement Grant, Hanover School District work with GSN to address root causes of truancy, dropping out, and non-compliant behaviors that are on the rise. From college and career readiness to MTSS improvements and SEL curriculum and coaching, Hanover will gain the resources to help students understand the relevance of their education and to provide the support students need to thrive in school and beyond.
If your district is looking to make improvements but doesn’t know where to start, GSN may be able to help! Get in touch today with Savanna Hanson to learn how GSN can help you secure funds and address challenges effectively.
|
|
|
|
Kirk Banghart
Chief Facilitator - Colorado Rural Education Collaborative
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
