Superintendents: Colorado schools must evolve to prepare students for a changing economy

In a rapidly changing economy, Colorado students will need skills that they can apply across a range of fields. But state systems don’t always encourage schools to provide career training or the so-called soft skills that will help students adapt over time.

That was the message from five rural, urban, and suburban superintendents who spoke Monday on a panel at an annual superintendents forum hosted by the Denver-based Public Education and Business Coalition. Their discussion focused on the intersection of business and education — particularly how schools could help students prepare for meaningful careers.

Speaking alongside the incoming executive executive director of Clayton Early Learning, Becky Crowe, and attorney Craig May from the Denver-based firm Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell, the district leaders described innovative experiments in school systems around the state — from helping high school students obtain specialized industry credentials to training parents to advocate for their children to measuring how well schools are turning out students with “grit” or perseverance.

The superintendents were Rico Munn of Aurora, Lisa Yates of Buena Vista, Scott Siegfried of Cherry Creek, Thomas Tucker of Douglas County, and Pam Swanson of Westminster.

Read more: https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2019/06/04/superintendents-student-colorado-preparation-economy/