Skip To Content

Preparing Students for the Future Through Authentic Learning & CTE: A Message from Superintendent Dr. Glass

Preparing Students for Their Futures Through Authentic Learning & CTE: A Message from Superintendent Dr. Glass
Posted on 09/21/2018

Superintendent & Chief Learner Dr. Jason GlassIn Jeffco Public Schools, we say “keep the main thing the main thing,” and the main thing is learning. More specifically, we are focused on changing the learning experiences our students have so they are still connected to important content (facts), and also pushed toward deeper thinking. We provide students with the ability to practice a set of skills that we believe are even more important than the facts alone. We call these Generations Skills, and they are:

  • Civic and Global Engagement
  • Self-Direction and Personal Responsibility
  • Communication
  • Critical & Creative Thinking
  • Collaboration & Leading by Influence
  • Agility & Adaptability
  • Content Mastery

In our classrooms every day, we create learning experiences for our students where they get the chance to practice these skills by working on real-world problems and issues. Providing authentic and meaningful experiences for students leads to greater engagement and ultimately a better-prepared graduate.

One important purpose of an education system is the preparation of students for the workforce. This is undoubtedly the case in Jeffco Public Schools where career/technical education has been a focus for years. Our district’s two Warren Tech campuses are jewels in Jeffco’s crown. I would argue these programs are one of the best career/technical education models in the world.

Beyond Warren Tech, Jeffco Public Schools offers a number of career/technical opportunities for students in every high school – Arvada High School’s construction trades program, the academies at Green Mountain High School, and the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program at Wheat Ridge High School are just a few of these.

While we are proud of Warren Tech and our current career programs, we need to do even more. We have hundreds of students on wait lists to participate in Warren Tech programs at both the central and north campuses. That’s why we have included the construction of a new Warren Tech South campus in the district’s bond program which will appear on the November ballot as Question 5B. We have also included funds for the staffing to make it happen in the Mill Levy Override, Question 5A on the ballot. Once built and staffed, this brand new state-of-the-art career/technical education center will allow us to serve many more students across Jeffco.

Authentic learning also happens outside our schools through our community and businesses. That’s why Jeffco is redesigning and expanding our experiential career education programs in hopes of eventually having thousands of Jeffco students working in businesses alongside professionals, while still in high school. Launching this year, our Jeffco Career Links program will place students directly into apprenticeships, paid and unpaid internships, job shadows, and other hands-on experiences, so they graduate from our schools career-ready.

We’re excited about delivering these hands-on, real-world learning opportunities. We are committed to making the years our students spend in our schools filled with the very best possible learning experiences for every Jeffco student. On behalf of all of us with Jeffco Public Schools, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve this wonderful community and your family.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jason Glass, Superintendent & Chief Learner

Jeffco students, parents, families, staff, and community members may engage with Dr. Glass via Facebook, Twitter @COJasonGlass, and through his blog, advancejeffco.blog.

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.