Newsroom

 

Faculty in the School of Education & Human Development (SEHD) continue to advance equity-minded, evidence-based, community-informed research that support learners and communities at all levels. In recent weeks, our faculty members have secured an impressive $682,610 in grant funding, reflecting their ongoing commitment to innovation, collaboration, and impact in education locally, nationally, and beyond.

Partnering to Build Capacity: Mentoring for Excellence Grant (PBC-MEG)

Jody Tucker, PhD (PI), has been awarded a $180,540 grant from the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) to strengthen teacher mentorship programs across Colorado. The funding will support partnerships between educator preparation programs and local education providers, creating training programs for mentor teachers. Educators may earn a Colorado mentor teacher licensure endorsement and provide guidance to teacher candidates and novice teachers, fostering stronger instructional capacity and leadership within schools. This project addresses the state’s need for high-quality mentoring to improve teacher retention and professional growth.

Preschool-3rd Grade Leadership Development Project

Kristie Kauerz, EdD (PI), has been awarded $175,000 from the Nevada Department of Education to build administrator and leadership capacity in early learning and the early grades. Through participation in the P-3 Leadership Certificate Program, designed and led by the National P-3 Center at SEHD, up to 40 B-3 (birth through 3rd grade) administrators in Nevada will engage in a 10-month, fully online professional learning program. The project also includes the development of a Nevada B-3 Toolkit and a one-day Leadership Summit, ensuring administrators have research-based resources to strengthen their efforts to support young students.

Early Childhood Innovation Scholarship Program

Lori Ryan, PhD (PI) and the early childhood program area have been awarded $84,500 from the Colorado Department of Higher Education Innovation Scholarship to support tuition costs for students enrolled in the new Coaching for Bilingual Children Graduate Certificate, Fall 2025-Fall 2026. This initiative aims to expand access to early childhood education programs and strengthen the early childhood workforce in Colorado.

Early Childhood Policy Fellowships

Kristie Kauerz, EdD, and Diana Schaack, PhD (PIs), have been awarded $80,500 from Columbia University to support underrepresented doctoral students pursuing a PhD in Early Childhood Policy. Fellows will engage in graduate coursework, national cohort activities, and summer learning institutes in Washington, DC, preparing them to influence early childhood policy at federal, state, and local levels.

P-3 in Principal Preparation Programs: Build the Field

Kristie Kauerz, EdD (PI), has been awarded $50,000 from the W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundation to advance field-wide understanding of how principal preparation programs can support early learning and the early grades. The project will disseminate research findings, host cross-sector “peer-to-peer” convenings, and strengthen state, district, and higher education collaboration around leadership practices for P-3 education.

Additional Awards

 

REACH University/CU Denver Apprenticeship Pathway Scholarships

Cindy Gutierrez, PhD (PI), has been awarded a $45,000 grant from REACH University to provide scholarships for teacher apprentices. This funding expands opportunities for high school students and adult learners to engage in apprenticeship pathways in SEHD, supporting workforce development and access to teaching careers.

Advance Early Childhood Policy through Research and Coursework

Kristie Kauerz, EdD, and Diana Schaack, PhD (PIs), have been awarded $42,000 from Columbia University to support doctoral-level coursework and interdisciplinary collaboration through the Early Childhood Policy in Institutions of Higher Education (ECPIHE) consortium. The grant fosters research and degree pathways with potential to impact early childhood policy nationally.

Transforming Teaching Evaluation: A Data-Driven Approach to Equitable FCQ Analysis

Dennis DeBay, PhD (PI), and Courtney Donovan, PhD (Co-PI), have been awarded $10,570 from the ACE Inclusive Excellence Initiative to analyze seven years of Faculty Course Questionnaire (FCQ) data. The project investigates potential equity gaps in teaching evaluations by examining influences such as gender, race, age, and course context. Results will inform evidence-based recommendations to ensure equitable evaluation practices and promote professional growth for faculty, particularly from underrepresented groups.

Increasing Latine Students’ Dual Enrollment Participation at SEHD

Margarita Bianco, EdD and Madhavi Tandon, PhD (PIs), have been awarded $10,000 to expand Latine high school students’ participation in dual enrollment programs at the SEHD. This initiative provides early college access, fosters academic confidence, and encourages future educators from underrepresented backgrounds. Funding also supports a graduate research assistant to conduct outreach, expand enrollment, and create sustainable equity-focused programming.

Advancing Literacy through Community and Student Engagement

Erica Holyoke, PhD, and Sarah Woodard (PIs) have been awarded two grants totaling $4,500 to support literacy education and community-based initiatives. A $3,500 award from the National Council of Teachers of English funds intergenerational pop-up writing and making workshops in partnership with the Denver Writing Project, fostering community-led experiences that bring together participants of all ages to share stories across modalities and generations. In addition, a $1,000 grant from the ACE Inclusive Excellence Initiative supports undergraduate and graduate students presenting at the National Council of Teachers of English conference, enabling them to share research and classroom practices in inclusive, responsive, multilingual, and multimodal literacy instruction.

Our school continues to lead the way in fostering innovative and impactful educational initiatives. We extend our gratitude to all faculty members whose dedication to advancing research and securing funding strengthens CU Denver’s tradition of excellence and commitment to serving diverse learners and communities.