CUE May 2026 Newsletter

Bridging the Gap: Local Partnership Helps Rebuild the Teacher Pipeline

At the UNC Center for Urban Education, we partner with Denver-area schools where our teacher candidates work as paraprofessionals for the duration of their degree program. This allows students to immediately apply what they learn and deeply understand what their careers as teachers will be like.

Dr. Rosanne Fulton, CUE director, believes it is especially powerful for the Center to develop partnerships with schools in which teacher candidates can complete their field-based work and student teaching in the same school. “That way, they learn about the school’s specific culture and curriculum,” she said. “They also develop deeper relationships with students and families, which positively impact their instruction and support of students.”

CUE graduate Nicky Tidd with his students

One of the schools we work with is Beach Court Elementary School in Denver Public Schools. CUE graduate Nicky Tidd has been a dance and physical education teacher at Beach Court for six years. He said that the CUE program helped him better prepare for the world of teaching by working in schools while he attended classes and receiving guidance from a mentor teacher.

“The best part of teaching is that moment when the light bulb comes on in a child’s mind and they make a connection with their work that I know they will remember forever,” said Tidd. “It gives me goosebumps to think about it.”

CUE graduate AlanaBlu Cooley with her students

CUE graduate AlanaBlu Cooley is in her first year of teaching at Beach Court after completing three years of apprenticeship work there. “My experience at CUE shaped me into the teacher I am today,” said Cooley. “With my CLD endorsement, I’ve learned how to truly see my students their cultures, languages, and strengths and use that to guide my teaching every day.”

CUE teacher candidate Katia Villa Berumen with her students

CUE teacher candidate Katia Villa Berumen is currently completing her field work at Beach Court. She said that going back to school was a little intimidating, but the hands-on curriculum and friendships at the Center have been a wonderful experience and reminder of her mission. “I look forward to all my growth as a teacher and the connections I will make along the way!” said Villa Berumen.

Leah Schultz-Bartlett, principal at Beach Court Elementary School

CUE excels in preparing teachers for the classroom.
–Leah Schultz-Bartlett, principal at Beach Court Elementary School

The principal at Beach Court Elementary School, Leah Schultz-Bartlett, is a UNC graduate herself and said that CUE excels in preparing teachers for the classroom. She said, “The Center’s coursework and in-field experiences allow their students to teach from the start, which is vital in developing teachers who are ready to take on the challenges of the classroom. At Beach Court, we are proud to host many CUE students, and many have stayed on after graduation as teachers.”

“We appreciate our relationship with Beach Court Elementary and their support of our teacher candidates and our program,” said Fulton. “This type of partnership is key in preparing excellent teachers for our urban classrooms.”