The Redefining Rural Podcast Redefining Rural

We are back for our fifth season of Redefining Rural! In the opening episode Kirk, Michelle, and Denille talk with David Blackburn, the Superintendent of Salida Schools District, about the power of Career Connected Learning and the critical impact that the state grants have made to this work! We will also discuss how the end of these grants will hurt students across the state and possible solutions to keep the work going.
 

Have you ever thought, “I want to become a teacher but I don’t want to leave my rural community”? In this episode, Valerie Sherman and Cindy Gutierrez from CU Denver talk about the exciting T-PREP program - a pathway for individuals and local talent who live and work in rural Colorado to earn a Bachelor’s degree and teacher licensure without needing to uproot or commute! Learn about how T-PREP leverages relationships with local community colleges, provides flexibility for families and working folks, and utilizes the role you may already perform in schools to meet licensure requirements.
https://linktr.ee/redefiningrural

New Episode Alert!
Tamara Durbin from NE BOCES shares creative teacher recruitment strategies with us! Through a partnership with Robert Fulton at UNC, 19 junior and senior students received an immersive experience in rural education this month. Get excited about the future of rural recruitment and retention by listening to the full episode here: https://linktr.ee/redefiningrural

Listen to this month’s Redefining Rural Podcast where Kirk talks to Erica Ryan, Post-Secondary Workforce Specialist at CDE. In this episode they discuss the new Teacher Recruitment, Education, and Preparation program (TREP) that offers the opportunity for high school students to have two years of higher education paid for by the state. Check out this podcast to learn more about TREP!

Listen to the latest episode of Redefining Rural with Denille, Michelle, and Kirk as they speak to Dr. Katie Anderson-Pence, the Associate Dean at the University of CO, Colorado Springs, and Dave Slothower, the Superintendent of Calhan School District. The guest speakers talk about a robust Registered Apprenticeship Program that focus’ on supporting paraprofessionals becoming licensed teachers and the positive effects this will have on teacher retention moving forward.

This season we’re focusing on exciting teacher recruitment and retention projects around the state of Colorado. In this episode you will hear from Paul Major about a new project that provides housing for educators. Todd Bittner, the superintendent of the Norwood School District in South West CO, describes the housing availability in his community and the innovative solutions to provide support for single teachers looking to move to and teach in the area. Listen to this episode to learn more about this unique project!