Rural Centered
A quarterly newsletter from the Colorado Center for Rural Education
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Welcome, New Team Members!
Greetings, and warmest regards from the Colorado Center for Rural Education! This edition of Rural Centered reflects our commitment to communicate with you through a quarterly publication. Should you have comments, questions, or feedback, click reply or email me directly.
This issue highlights our Center’s ongoing work, which is to recruit and retain rural educators by means of financial support and incentives. Our goals for the coming year include:
- Expanding our partnerships to increase the number of pathways to becoming a rural educator,
- Fully funding all stipend programs, and
- Systematically evaluating our impact on the 146 rural school districts in Colorado.
To help achieve those goals, I am delighted to welcome three dynamic new members to our team—Robert Fulton, Cindy Budde, and Elizabeth Buller.
Harvey Rude, Director
Colorado Center for Rural Education
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Robert Fulton, PhD
Dr. Fulton is the State Coordinator for the program. He has more than 30 years’ experience as a public school teacher and administrator, university professor and administrator, and leader of nonprofit and private organizations. He is committed to excellence in teaching and learning and believes in the power of education to improve lives. When he’s not hard at work, Robert enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, and communing with nature.
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Cindy Budde
Cindy Budde, Project Assistant, has worked for the University of Northern Colorado for more than 20 years. Before coming to CCRE, she was the office manager in the School of Biological Sciences, then worked in student/faculty support in the College of Natural and Health Sciences. Cindy enjoys the campus atmosphere and loves taking classes, attending performing and visual arts shows, singing in the university choir, and rooting for the Bears!
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Elizabeth Buller
Elizabeth Buller is the Stipend Coordinator for the program. She has worked for the University of Northern Colorado for more than 10 years. Her first position was working with grants and programs for the School of Social Sciences. Then Elizabeth worked in an administrative capacity for the School of Biological Sciences before coming to CCRE. Elizabeth enjoys learning from the faculty and students at UNC.
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UPCOMING APPLICATION TIMELINES
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2021/2022 National Board Certified Teacher stipend recipients
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CCRE Awards National Board Certified Teacher Stipends for 2021/2022 School Year
All NBCT stipend recipients receive support and mentorship from Colorado Education Association facilitators in a Colorado Rural National Board cohort. Recipients must commit to remaining in a rural setting for three years after becoming a National Board candidate.
We asked some of the recent recipients to comment on how the award would help them achieve their goals in the upcoming school year.
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Glenn Case
Glenn Case, a Spanish teacher for Estes Park Schools, said, “I am very excited to have the support of the Center for Rural Education! Our Spanish Department in Estes Park is pursuing NBCT certification as a way to improve learning outcomes and teaching in our middle and high school classrooms. We plan to spend the money to cover the cost of submitting our National Board components for review. It is a huge relief to be able to focus on the quality of the components, rather than worrying about the cost of registration and other fees.”
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Claudia Rivas
Claudia Rivas, another Spanish teacher for Estes Park Schools, said, “I am committed to meeting this goal for my students and my school. I plan to use the funds to develop the resources necessary to improve my teaching and meet all the requirements of the National Board Certification. Receiving this scholarship increases my confidence and allows me to achieve the best version of myself as a person and a teacher.”
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Click here for more information about the National Board Certified Teacher stipend.
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Our guest speaker,
Amie Baca-Ohlert
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Future Rural Teachers Summit Scheduled for February 2022
The Colorado Center for Rural Education will host the 2022 Future Rural Teachers Summit on the evening of February 17, 2022, in conjunction with the annual Future Teacher Conference at the University of Northern Colorado. The purpose of the Summit is to help rural high school students discover what it’s like to be a teacher in rural Colorado and network with likeminded peers. The conference is one way we “grow our own” teachers.
Our guest speaker, Amie Baca-Oehlert, President of the Colorado Education Association, will talk about becoming a teacher and changing the world.
During the Summit, participants connect with CCRE staff members; UNC students and faculty members; and rural educators and administrators. The evening includes a buffet dinner and group activities that allow participants to share their experiences living and going to school in rural communities.
If you know a rural high school student and chaperone who would be interested in attending, contact Cindy Budde via email or at 970-351-4954. Students may apply to attend until February 1, 2022. The number of participants is limited and we will process applications on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early!
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Our Featured Partners
TEACH Colorado links potential teachers with jobs in their districts. The organization provides customized licensure support to non-licensed staff members and high-school students who are interested in teaching. Contact Annette Konoske-Graf for more information.
The Colorado Educator Loan Forgiveness Program offers loan repayment assistance on qualified loans for educators, mainly for those who serve in rural and hard-to-fill positions in Colorado. Participants are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness in a given year.
The Public Education & Business Coalition believes that each and every child deserves a great educator. They work in Colorado and across the nation to prepare outstanding new teachers, help practicing educators become exceptional, and shape policies that foster vibrant growth and lasting student success.
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Contact Us
The Colorado Center for Rural Education supports educators by providing financial support to pre- and in-service teachers. Visit our website for more information about our mission and available stipends.
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