Poudre School District is pleased to announce Tanya Alcaraz as the district’s new director of Career and Innovation.
As of last month when she stepped into the role, Alcaraz oversees the Career and Innovation team, which is responsible for developing, maintaining, and expanding career development programming, Career and Technical Education pathways, and concurrent enrollment opportunities districtwide. Alcaraz says it is her team's priority to make sure that every student graduate with options. What does that mean? That they feel empowered knowing they have multiple, meaningful opportunities after graduation, whether it is to attend a two-or four-year college, starting an apprenticeship, entering the workforce or joining the military.
Over the past 22 years, Alcaraz has had several roles in PSD, including as a business teacher, work-based-learning coordinator, CTE coordinator and as assistant director of Career and Innovation. Each position has equipped her with additional knowledge and skills to better help students be future ready.
“I am grateful for all of the people I have had the opportunity to learn from during my career, and I am excited to continue to grow in this new role,” said Alcaraz. “I am honored and humbled [to] lead in a district that prioritizes relationships and belonging while continuing to accelerate academic success, college and career readiness for every student.”
Throughout this journey, Alcaraz found one of her passions is helping students find their path through and beyond high school. Working within Career and Innovation, she has seen students’ confidence grow and other positive impacts when they are able to take the time to explore their interests before graduating.
“In this role, I hope to continue to build and enhance pathways that bridge PreK-12 learning with postsecondary and workforce opportunities,” said Alcaraz.
Alcaraz looks at the previous successes of the Career and Innovation team and wants to build a stronger future. One way she hopes to achieve this is through her work and that of the team to directly support the PSD Strategic Plan priority of graduate with options.
PSD’s Chief Equity and Academic Officer Marlena Gross-Taylor is excited to have Alcaraz lead the Career and Innovation Department.
“She brings a unique set of experiences and passion that positions her perfectly to propel PSD to the next level in helping our students be future ready!” said Gross-Taylor.
Outside work, Alcaraz and her family spend most of their free time at basketball games or tennis tournaments. Her husband is a teacher at Fort Collins High School, and they have two daughters, an eighth grader at Kinard Middle School and a 10th grader at Fort Collins High School.