Opportunity is a key building block of the Poudre School District, which is evident in a program offered to district employees designed to help them, as its name implies, become a teacher.
The Become a Teacher program allows PSD paraprofessionals to earn bachelor's and master’s degrees while remaining employed at the school district, preparing them to become teachers in hard-to-fill areas; the current cohort is for special education. The program is a partnership between PSD and the University of Northern Colorado, with students learning online through UNC’s extended campus and meeting monthly for PSD support.
“The Become a Teacher program reflects PSD’s deep commitment to its employees and the value we place on investing in our people,” said Deborah Meyer, senior director of Talent Acquisition and Retention for PSD. “Thanks to the support of our board and leadership, we are fortunate to be illuminating a path that removes barriers and grows our own educators. It has been a joy and an honor to witness the growth of these dedicated professionals. This program has tremendous potential to bring long-term value to our workforce, our district, and, most importantly, our students.”
Jennifer Hayden, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School paraprofessional and current member of the Become a Teacher program, said she became interested in the program because it made it possible to pursue her dream of becoming a special education teacher.
She added the program has been fun, challenging, and exhausting, saying she loves learning new things in addition to exploring key aspects of special education.
“The greatest value of the program is the immediate application of knowledge. You aren't just learning in a vacuum; you are applying it in the classroom the very next day,” Hayden said. “Additionally, the built-in support system is invaluable. Having mentors within my building and experts at the district level ensures that when I have questions, I receive practical, real-world answers that bridge the gap between textbook scenarios and the reality of the classroom.”
Derek Kimbrough, a paraprofessional at Poudre High School, is entering his second year in the program and described it as an amazing experience. He said the program being online works with his work schedule in a way that allows him to be successful in both areas of his life.
“This program has given me the life-changing opportunity to become a teacher at no cost to myself,” Kimbrough said. “If it were not for this program, I would not be able to pursue a master's degree in special education. I would highly recommend this program to any PSD employee looking to further their career towards becoming a special education teacher.”
PSD and UNC will be looking to launch their next cohort of students in 2027 and will be accepting applications this coming fall. Those interested in learning more about the program and being notified of upcoming informational sessions can do so on the PSD staff website!