Education to Career Pathways

On May 8, 2026, CAEC brought together 258 adult educators, workforce professionals, correctional education practitioners, community partners, and industry leaders from across Colorado for a day of learning and collaboration. The event opened with keynote speaker Edward Macdonald, MCC, MBA, who presented Sustaining High Performance in Complex Systems: The Neuroscience of Resilient Leadership, sharing strategies for resilience, effective decision-making, and leadership in complex environments.

Pikes Peak State College presented GED to Entry-Level Workforce in the healthfield, demonstrating how adult education can connect learners to healthcare credentials and employment opportunities. Red Rocks Community College and Emily Griffith Technical College shared their up and coming adult high school equivalency models. Additional sessions explored workforce programming, integrating artificial intelligence to build employability skills. Highlights included the Skilled Trades Career Pathways Panel and Corrections Education Panel, where experts discussed workforce needs, apprenticeship opportunities, educational access, and reentry support.



The event reflected CAEC's commitment to strengthening adult education through collaboration, innovation, and partnerships that expand pathways to education, employment, and economic mobility. CAEC thanks all presenters, panelists, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees for contributing to a successful event and advancing opportunities for adult learners across Colorado.

The Adult Educator

An adult educator is much more than a teacher. They are mentors, advocates, listeners, and guides who walk alongside learners as they pursue new opportunities and work toward personal, educational, and career goals. Every learner enters the classroom with a unique story shaped by experiences, responsibilities, challenges, and aspirations. Adult educators honor those experiences and build learning environments where individuals feel respected, supported, and empowered.

The work of an adult educator is rooted in human connection. They serve learners balancing employment, family responsibilities, financial pressures, language acquisition, and countless other demands while striving to improve their lives. Through patience, encouragement, and genuine care, adult educators help learners develop knowledge, skills, confidence, and a renewed belief in what is possible.

The impact of this work extends far beyond the classroom. A completed assignment, a passing test score, a newly acquired skill, or a first step toward a career pathway can represent a transformative moment in a learner's life. These achievements strengthen families, enrich communities, and contribute to a more educated and skilled workforce.

At the Colorado Adult Education Coalition, we believe that educators are learners and learners are educators. Meaningful learning occurs through the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. By bringing together educators, workforce partners, community organizations, employers, libraries, and advocates, we strive to create opportunities that support lifelong learning, economic mobility, and stronger communities throughout Colorado.

Adult education is ultimately about people helping people. That is the enduring work of the adult educator. Adult education matters because humanity matters.

Dr. Jacinda Lay, EdD

Chief Executive Officer

Why Donate to CAEC?

Your donation helps adults across Colorado gain the education, skills, and opportunities needed to succeed. CAEC connects learners to high school equivalency programs, English language learning, workforce training, digital literacy, and career pathways that lead to employment and economic mobility.

By supporting CAEC, you help expand adult education opportunities, strengthen Colorado's workforce, reduce barriers to learning, and empower individuals to build better futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Invest in education. Strengthen communities. Transform lives.

CAEC is proud to launch its 8-week Integrated Education and Training (IET) Construction Career Pathways program. The program connects HSE, GED and ESL learners to workforce training, apprenticeship pathways, and careers in the skilled trades through academic instruction, workforce preparation, and construction industry aligned technical training. Participants receive training in construction safety, construction math, tools, blueprint reading, workforce readiness, OSHA 10, and First Aid/CPR in addition to GED classes while preparing for employment and registered apprenticeship pathways across Colorado. Visit caeconline.org to get more information.

Thank you to our partners.

Sector Connector Network Group is a monthly online convening for adult education providers, workforce partners, and employers to strengthen sector partnerships and align education-to-employment pathways across Colorado. Participants collaborate to share practices and coordinate strategies that support adult learners moving into training, college, apprenticeships, and employment.

Join CAEC's three-part Sector Connector series exploring how behavioral health, family systems, and learner support strategies impact persistence, completion, and transition outcomes in adult education. This series will provide educators, workforce professionals, and community partners with practical tools to better understand the challenges adult learners face and strategies to support their success.

Guest Speaker - Carol Gurule

Juntos 4-H Youth Specialist

For a Better Education! / Para Una Mejor Educación!

Colorado State University (CSU) – San Luis Valley Area Extension

May 15, 2026 - 10:00am- 11:00am

Session 1: The Big Picture – Why Behavioral Health and Family Systems Matter

June 19, 2026 - 10:00am-11:00am

Session 2: Building Trust and Strengthening Retention

July 17, 2026- 10:00am-11:00am

Session 3: From Stability to Postsecondary and Workforce Success

Contact: jacinda.lay@coloradoadulteducationcoalition,org for more information.

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