News and Events
Here’s Why We Must Open Schools to Authentic Parent Partnership
October 10, 2019By Landon Mascareñaz | When I taught first grade on the Navajo Nation, I’ll never forget when one of my fellow teachers—now my wife—wanted to host an event that welcomed our families to the school. The veteran educators there told her it would never happen. I was shocked by their …
Elevating Student Voices to Increase Cultural Awareness
September 21, 2019When students in Mesa County, Colorado identified potential for increasing cultural awareness in their school and community, they acted, creating a vision for a Student Led Equity Council (SLEC). Now that vision is becoming a reality, thanks to leadership from Mesa County Valley School District’s IB Coordinator Laura Meinzen and Dual Language …
Superintendent Spotlight
September 21, 2019Bree Lessar, La Veta School District Q. What was the path that led you to become the Superintendent in La Veta? My path at La Veta began when I was a junior high school English and social studies teacher. I became a secondary principal in 2009, and was named acting …
All Learning is Social and Emotional
September 21, 2019By Finessa Ferrell, CEI Social Emotional Learning Specialist Poudre High School (PHS) in Fort Collins has a long history of collaboration with CEI to build social emotional development opportunities for their student body. Six years ago, CEI supported the creation of the Students Mentoring Students program. Since that time, the …
Fostering Brilliance in Colorado Educators
September 20, 2019By Rebecca Holmes, CEI President and CEO I want to confess one of my favorite moments that my role at CEI affords me… someone interested in education, perhaps as a funder, a realtor, or a parent, asks me what’s inspiring to me in our education system across the state. They …
Accelerating High School Redesign: Summer Camp for Educators
July 25, 2019Rock Climbing. Javelin Throwing. Food Trucks. #RedesignRockstars. It all contributed to a unique and inspiring week in Denver, Colorado, where high school teams left with new ideas, strategies, and a commitment to ensuring equitable outcomes for youth in today’s high schools. More than 150 educators and youth in 30 teams …
Professional Development Services
June 25, 2019The Colorado Education Initiative (CEI), an expert in K-12 systems change from the ground-up, is excited to offer contracted support for educators and administrators for district and school teams. We are educators and system leaders with first-hand experience guiding schools, teachers, and leaders towards cultivating change. Read about our team. …