The Cherry Creek School District has found a solution to a shortage in special education teachers through its Aspiring Educator Pathway program.

Cherry Creek

Schools across Colorado continue to face significant challenges in filling teaching positions, especially in special education. State data indicates that 14% of general education and 17% of special education roles remained vacant in the last school year, leaving thousands of positions open statewide.

To address this, the Cherry Creek School District has introduced the aspiring educator pathway program, which allows participants to earn a four-year degree for under $15,000 while receiving an annual salary between $45,000 and $52,000. The program, now in its second year, has seen its enrollment quadruple, with 23 apprentices currently training in special education. A similar statewide teacher degree apprenticeship program is also launching, combining college coursework with on-the-job training to help adults become licensed teachers without leaving the workforce.

Cherry Creek Schools ease teacher shortage with pathway program

As more students head back to class this week, schools all across Colorado were still struggling to fill teaching positions. The needs, especially high in special education. The state data shows vacancies grew last school year with 14% of general education and 17% special education roles needing to be filled. That's thousands of open jobs across the state. Denver 7 Maggie Bielanski found one local district seeking to provide a solution. My last word, Jill also cabin is a moderate needs special education teacher. Your brains are dusted off from the summer. I'm so glad you remember she works with students at Trails West Elementary School with different types of disabilities, so that could be a learning disability. It can be ADHD. It can be autism, so it's my instruction is very individualized to what their needs are and she knows yes 100%. There is a need, a need for more special education teachers. It was a problem and we needed a solution. But now Superintendent Christopher Smith shares how the aspiring educator pathway program can bring change and they can get their four year degree for less than $15,000. So and in the process we pay them anywhere between $45,000 and $52,000 a year to get their degree. So they're actually making money instead of going into debt. Do you think this is helping to break down a barrier that people thought? Hey, I can't teach because of the finances. Yes, I I 100% agree with you. 100% there are people out there who want to be educators but can't afford it. Now in the second year of the program, our numbers have quadrupled and there are 23 apprentices training specifically in special education, including good job. Alright, so let's put these underneath. Micaela Garcia, your tease. I realized that this is definitely my entire passions is what I'm put on this Earth to do. I think working with Jill I'm learning through experience, which a lesson is, yeah, untouchable. You can't get that anywhere else, so and there's hope. Other school districts will do the same. While we started this in Cherry Creek, our goal is to have the best teachers in front of the students in front of the state of Colorado because the impact goes far beyond the classroom. I feel like I get taught more by the kids than I could ever teach them. So I give a land ski Denver 7. Wow, alright, going in depth, a statewide program officially launching this fall is also working to provide a solution to the state's chronic teacher shortage. The teacher degree apprenticeship program combines college classes with on the job training and it provides a pathway to become a licensed teacher for adults who can't afford to stop working to get a degree. So five school districts are taking part in the program. You can see that list right here on your screen. Most of those schools are in rural areas.

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