DURANGO, Colo.— Fort Lewis College’s School of Education has been awarded nearly $7 million in grants to support the development of a more diverse teacher workforce and promote multilingual education.
The funds, allocated through two separate grants, will provide critical support for marginalized students in obtaining teacher licensure and will foster bilingual education in Spanish and Indigenous languages.
"These grants are creating new multilingual opportunities through diverse pathways, building on our long-standing success as Colorado's oldest bilingual program," said Jenni Trujillo, dean of the School of Education. "It's truly a dream come true, as we can now support multiple routes for individuals to link language and culture to education—something we believe is key to fostering identity and achieving success."
The first of the two grants, totaling $3.5 million from the U.S. Office of English Language Acquisition, will fund Project BLOOM (Building Language and Opening Opportunities for Multilingualism) over the next five years. BLOOM addresses the growing need for diverse, multilingual educators in underserved communities.
“BLOOM is designed to allow us and our regional partners to implement a multi-layered project to increase the diversity of educators teaching Indigenous and heritage community students,” said Lorien Chambers Schuldt, Ph.D., chair of the Teacher Education Department.
Key components of BLOOM include creating pathways for high school students interested in teaching careers, offering certification for paraprofessionals in high-need schools, and providing further training for bilingual educators. The program is intended to help reverse the decline in Native language speakers by training educators who can aid in language revitalization efforts.
The second grant, totaling$3.2 million, was awarded by the U.S. Office of Postsecondary Education to establish CEDAR (Center for Educator Diversity, Achievement, and Responsiveness). This initiative will prepare Indigenous educators and educators of color to serve high-need students in rural, charter, and tribal schools.
“There’s a teaching shortage across the United States, but it’s especially acute in rural areas and in tribal communities,” said Associate Dean for the School of Education Chiara Cannella, Ph.D. “We see the importance of having educators who come from these communities.”
CEDAR will recruit undergraduates into teacher licensure programs, provide mentorship during their final year of study, and continue supporting graduates during their first year of teaching. It will also recruit graduate students in teacher licensure for that program. The goal is to increase the retention of educators in these communities by fostering a supportive network.
Fort Lewis College will work closely with local and regional partners, including Durango School District 9-R and the Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute tribes, to ensure that BLOOM and CEDAR have a lasting impact. These partnerships will also include collaborations with tribal schools and districts in New Mexico and potential outreach in Alaska.
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“Historically, the teaching profession has been predominantly white,” said Chambers Schuldt. “We know that when students from underserved communities have teachers who share their background, it significantly boosts academic achievement and community well-being.”
Both grants aim to address long-standing educational disparities while providing students and educators with resources and support, including stipends, coaching, and mentoring. The initiatives promise to make a lasting contribution to bilingual education and workforce diversity, ensuring a brighter future for schools across the region.