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In this episode of Build Momentum, we are Sarah and Chad are joined by Jessica Morrison, the Executive Director of Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, one of the partners in the newly established Career Launch Southwest initiative, which serves as a vital link between employers and the workforce of the future. She was previously the Director of Career and College Counseling at Animas High School in Durango for six years. In June 2021, the school won the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) Award from the Colorado Department of Education for its Sophomore Inspire Week program.
“I want all of your listeners to understand that these pieces take time—this is not for a school district that is faint of heart. I’ve worked in K-12 institutions as well as on the federal government side, and I know how important data is. What are the numbers? How many students are earning industry credentials? But laying the groundwork takes years, so it’s looking at all of the different components to then determine what are the steps that need to be put in place along the way.”
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- All about the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative
- Southwest Colorado Educational Collaborative’s partnerships
- Challenges and successes in higher ed partnerships
- Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative’s funding model
- Credentials and outcomes of the program
- Advice to leaders interested in collaborating on workforce development
- Strategies for sharing success stories and elevating thought leadership in education