The Colorado Department of Higher Education has awarded nearly $2 million to 17 collaborative projects throughout Colorado to recruit and retain more educators as part of the Plain Into Action Grant established earlier this year.

Two programs at the University of Northern Colorado were awarded two separate grants by the CDHE to address teacher shortages.

• UNC Center for Urban Education (CUE) Lowry Campus received a $125,000 grant known as “Growing Our Own for Urban Classrooms: The Paraprofessional-to-Teachers Pipeline” project to recruit, develop and retain a diverse teacher corps that supports strong learning outcomes for all students in urban environments and throughout Colorado. The project involves a collaborative, innovative staffing solution for school districts with a grow-our-own focus and teacher residencies for paraprofessionals as well as aligning teacher preparation efforts with needs of local education providers. Urban Education Director and Elementary Education Coordinator Rosanne Fulton, Ph.D., and Executive Director of Extended Campus Nancy Rubin, Ph.D., will serve as co-directors of the grant.
• The  Aspiring Teachers Program received a $120,324 grant with the goal of making teaching careers more accessible to rural high school students through concurrent enrollment. These students will take two intensive, face-to-face residences at UNC for community building and curriculum instruction. This program will support students as they take their first steps toward becoming culturally aware, highly effective teachers who have the opportunity to give back to their own communities.UNC Associate Professor of Literacy Education Suzette Youngs, Ph.D., and UNC Assistant Professor of Teacher Education Christine Kyser, Ed.D., will serve as co-directors of this grant.