The AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) announced Wednesday, Jan. 10, that the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Center for Urban Education (CUE) is the recipient of its 2024 Increasing Educator Diversity: Promising Practice Award for its demonstrated outcomes and advocacy related to increasing educator diversity.

The inaugural award, overseen by AACTE’s Programmatic Advisory Committee on Educator Diversity, recognizes a promising practice from a school, college or department of education demonstrating outcomes and advocacy related to various activities, practices, programs, pedagogies, systems and/or policies that lead to or is likely to lead to, an increase in educator diversity. 

Since 2000, the CUE has focused on preparing teachers who are culturally, racially and linguistically responsive to build a workforce that mirrors the demographics of the learners in Denver. With over 70% of its teacher candidates being individuals of color, the center equips educators to make a meaningful impact in diverse urban settings. Through the center’s Grow Your Own (GYO) program, teacher candidates work as paraeducators in local schools during the mornings and complete their teacher prep courses in the afternoons and evenings setting them up for success in the classroom.

“Our graduates from the Center for Urban Education contribute to the number of diverse teachers in our urban schools, and we know that they are confident and competent as classroom teachers,” said Kirsten Fleming, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at UNC. “Thank you so much for this recognition.”

Jared Stallones, Ph.D., dean of UNC’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Rosanne Fulton, Ph.D., director of CUE and Joanna Ross, assistant director of CUE, will be presented with the award during AACTE’s 2024 Annual Meeting Feb. 16–18 in Denver, Co. 

“It is my pleasure to present the Increasing Educator Diversity: Promising Practice Award to UNC CUE for its impactful contribution and commitment to DEI,” said Lynn M. Gangone, AACTE president and CEO. “UNC CUE’s innovative approach to fostering highly skilled urban educators underscores its dedication to reducing barriers for teacher candidates.”