CDE Field Trips - 4/9/25: Reducing the Teacher Shortage with the Educator Career Navigation Team

As Colorado continues to feel the effects of a nationwide teacher shortage, CDE’s Educator Career Navigation team is working toward long-term solutions through local partnerships, flexible pathways, and financial support.

“We’re not just promoting the profession—we’re guiding people toward the path that makes the most sense for them,” said Jennifer O’Brien, CDE’s educator career navigation director. Her team supports individuals from all backgrounds in finding customized entry points into education, from degree programs to training and competency-based routes. “If you want to be an educator, we can find a pathway for you.”

One strategy is supporting school districts in building “grow your own” initiatives—programs that develop local talent. “We bring together aspiring educators, teacher prep providers, and state-level partners to build the right approach for each place,” O’Brien said.

That local approach is especially important in rural districts, where schools often receive just one or two applicants per job posting—if any at all. “They don’t always come in licensed,” said Heather Grantham, an educator recruitment and retention specialist. “So we help districts understand how to support someone who’s a good fit but needs help getting certified.”

The regional team actively presents at high school and middle school career fairs, talking with students about why they should consider becoming teachers.

They also work with paraprofessionals—school staff who already know the classroom—to help them take the next step toward becoming a licensed teacher. “They’re already committed. They just need a path forward,” Grantham said.

A key component of CDE’s strategy is financial support. The Educator Recruitment and Retention Program—now in its fourth year—offers up to $10,000 in tuition assistance for those working toward licensure. Recipients must commit to teaching for three years in a Colorado public school. The most recent round of funding saw $5 million awarded in just two and a half months.

The team also connects aspiring teachers with many other funding opportunities based on their individual situations, including for high school students looking to become licensed educators and obtain their bachelor's degrees, student educators completing their teacher residency, and current rural educators working on additional endorsements.

Grantham said the funding, coupled with personalized support, is making a real difference.

“Our main goal is to get as many qualified teachers into Colorado classrooms as possible,” she said. “And we’ll do whatever it takes to get there.”

Learn more and find contact information on the Educator Career Navigation webpage.