{"id":17397,"date":"2023-05-09T14:54:55","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T20:54:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/?p=17397"},"modified":"2023-05-10T09:08:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T15:08:43","slug":"aspire-to-teach-10-year-anniversary-and-education-justice-and-democracy-panel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sehd.ucdenver.edu\/impact\/2023\/05\/09\/aspire-to-teach-10-year-anniversary-and-education-justice-and-democracy-panel\/","title":{"rendered":"Aspire to Teach 10-Year Anniversary and Education Justice and Democracy Panel"},"content":{"rendered":"

ASPIRE to Teach Faculty, Staff, Retirees and Alumni Celebrate 10th<\/sup> Anniversary <\/strong><\/p>\n

CU Denver\u2019s ASPIRE to Teach<\/a> program celebrated a landmark 10th<\/sup> year with a reflective evening reception honoring alumni, students, faculty and the administrative team on April 19 and an informative morning panel discussion on education justice and democracy on April 20. The trail-blazing program adds value to Colorado\u2019s teacher education landscape by using an innovative program structure, technologies, vibrant one-on-one coaching, high quality curriculum, and paid experiences in classrooms to empower future teachers. Both events featured guest speaker David Stovall, PhD, Professor of Black Studies and Criminology, Law, and Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago. For nearly two decades, Dr. Stovall also served as a professor of Education Policy Studies.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From simple beginnings in the Spring of 2013, ASPIRE to Teach has grown into the largest alternative teaching program in Colorado. It currently serves 407 current students and has inspired and provided alternative teacher licensure to nearly 2500 alumni. Alumni have included: accomplished retirees who want to give back; individuals looking to change pace from a high-impact career; athletes \u2014both Olympic and professional \u2014 who in their retirement wanted to work with children; paraprofessionals finally ready to pursue their own classroom; and parents who are now able to give to children other than their own.<\/p>\n

Suzanne Arnold, PhD, executive director, has led the charge for the entirety of the program, supported by Director, Jennifer Fox, EdD, as well as the ASPIRE faculty and staff, SEHD\u2019s Dean\u2019s team, district partners, state legislators. It was clear at the event that Arnold is extremely proud of her high-performing team. \u201cThe ASPIRE group has mastered relationship-driven leadership, and there is no other team in the country like them,\u201d said Arnold.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve never met a more profoundly visionary person in my entire life,\u201d said Jennifer Fox, APSIRE to Teach director, describing Arnold. \u201cSuzanne’s ability to innovate and see what is impossible is unmatched. She sees risks as opportunities and roadblocks as things to be shattered to allow more people to pass through. Her commitment to ensuring equity in teacher education is inspiring. Because of her, we now have equitable legislation in this state to support more diverse pathways to obtaining alternative licenses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dean Marvin Lynn, PhD, commended everyone affiliated with ASPIRE to Teach. \u201cThe program is characterized by two core facets,\u201d said Lynn. \u201cThat’s strong leadership and faculty excellence. And we are deeply grateful for the work you all do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Stovall, who has a gift for directly confronting serious educational topics in humorous and memorable ways, provided motivating words of wisdom and a call for community-engaged teaching during the keynote address. He stressed the importance of understanding unique contexts of teaching, constantly positioning oneself as a learner, being humble, checking in with students, and being an active facilitator in the classroom, navigating power in teaching, and community engagement. \u201cWhen we talk about community engagement, the first thing you have to do is suspend this notion of you not only as all knowing. It instantly positions you as a learner. And, if I look at my community as a space of value, then the first thing I\u2019m going to do is begin to ask questions of folks in that space. The second thing I do after those questions in our inquiry, I\u2019m going to ask if I got it right,\u201d said Stovall. \u201cAny community-centered education is always asking the questions \u2018Why and for what,\u2019 \u2018To what end,\u2019 \u2018for what purpose\u2019 and \u2018Why are we doing this\u2019? I see myself all the time in solidarity with my students. So, when you are in classrooms and your students say, “why we got to do this”, it’s the perfect question. Don’t kill it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Education Justice and Democracy Panel Discussion<\/strong><\/p>\n

The panel discussion on April 20, moderated by Antwan Jefferson, PhD, Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in SEHD, focused on the theme of democratic responsibility of public education and dreaming about what is possible in the future.<\/p>\n

Panelists included:<\/p>\n