Growing Diverse Educator Pathways Throughout Colorado and Across the United States
Dual Enrollment Pathways2Teaching
“Grow your own” educator programs are becoming increasingly popular to address teacher shortages. University of Colorado Denver’s nationally recognized Pathway2Teaching programs strengthen the link between students who demonstrate a passion for education and school districts wishing to grow their own teachers and strengthen and diversify their workforce. Our Dual Enrollment Pathways programs: allow students to earn up to a year of college credit toward a teaching degree; open doors for more students of color; build relationships that drive college admissions, registration, and student success; and leverage highly relevant high school and college courses and field experiences to awaken students’ desire to teach. The programs have a social justice lens and are highly responsive to students’ lived experiences.
Customize a Pathways2Teaching Option that Works for Your District’s Local Context
Your involvement with Pathways2Teaching begins with a meeting with SEHD leaders to learn about the district’s goals and local contexts. This information allows us to propose frameworks and strategies to match your specific needs and budgets.
Pathway Infrastructure options include:
- Efforts led by university faculty, graduate students, and local instructors: This program currently operates in rural and urban districts throughout Colorado and across the U.S. It provides a high level of faculty and graduate assistant contact.
- Initiatives co-led by the school district and university faculty: In this option, district leaders are committed to designing ‘grow your own’ pathways and work alongside university leaders to co-construct and run the program. The district is heavily involved in recruitment and appoints and pays for a district person to coordinate and teach in the program. Large metro school districts such St. Vrain, Cherry Creek, Boulder Valley, and DougCO have created strong Pathways2Teaching with CU Denver.
Courses
Students can take up to 11 education courses that transfer into CU Denver’s undergraduate education pathway as major courses or electives. The majority of the courses are state T-REP aligned and transfer into any 2 year or 4-year program in the state. Students can also earn a paraprofessional educator certificate with any three courses.
| Concurrent Enrollment Curriculum |
|---|
| UEDU 1930: Introduction to Socially Just Education - includes approximately 30 hours of field experiences |
| UEDU 1931: Introduction to Socially Just Education/Social Action Plan |
| EDHD 1930: Early Field Experience - includes approximately 30 hours of field experiences |
| ECED 2000: Early Childhood Education as a Profession |
| HDFR 1010 - Lifespan Development in Ecological Context |
| ECED 1202: Child Guidance and Classroom Community |
| CLDE 1000: Language, Power, and Identity |
| SPED 1030: Frameworks for Understanding (Dis)Ability |
| SPED 1400: Universal Design for Learning |
| INTE 2000: Digital Teaching and Learning/Critical Digital Literacy |
| LCRT 2000: Rebels, Villains and Superheroes (Core humanities at CU Denver) |
| STEM 1000: Early Exp. in STEM Teaching & Learning (elective) |
High Touch Instructor Support
SEHD leadership members work with district partners to identify and appoint high school teachers as instructors. High touch support and training is provided in multiple ways. Online training strengthens instructors’ knowledge and abilities to deliver equity-focused pedagogies. SEHD faculty and school support assistants also work alongside instructors to support teaching and learning and facilitate campus visits.
Coming Soon - Special Education Paraprofessional Certificate
Nine one-credit stackable modules aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children Core Competencies for special education paraprofessionals.
Dual Enrollment Pathways2Teaching Office
The SEHD Dual Enrollment administrative team is comprised of internationally recognized award winning scholars and multi-million dollar grant recipients recognized for their work on diversifying the educator workforce and innovative teacher preparation initiatives.
Please contact us to schedule an initial meeting.
