Advancing Public Education Together: Parent Leadership, Powerful Messaging, and the Strength of the Community

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By Don Haddad, Ed.D., the superintendent, and Kerri McDermid, the chief communications and global-impact officer, both of St. Vrain Valley Schools

Originally published in education week

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” The famous line from John F. Kennedy resonates with many who understand the impact our communities can have on advancing the greater good.

Our communities play a significant role in either accelerating or slowing the advancement of our public schools. An informed public who believes in the mission of education and understands the value of high-quality public schools bring to their lives (regardless if they have school-aged students) provides a foundation from which our education system can strengthen our society. Without their trust, investment, and support, we cannot remain successful in our mission to provide all students with the education and opportunities that will give them a strong competitive advantage in a complex, globalized world.

St. Vrain Valley Schools—the seventh-largest district in Colorado and home to more than 33,000 students across 13 communities—has spent more than a decade cultivating a relationship with its community that has been the nexus for implementing systemic and strategic change. This has forged a path toward transformation from a school district on the brink of bankruptcy to one that is nationally and internationally recognized for innovation and parent leadership.

A District at a Crossroads

In 2008, St. Vrain found itself at a crossroads. It had stabilized its budget after making significant sacrifices and staffing cuts following a $13.8 million shortfall in 2002 and was preparing for a looming national recession with expected significant additional cuts to education funding in Colorado. Revenues would need to increase if the district wanted to provide the high-quality education that our students deserve, but community trust and support was at a low.

In Colorado, tax increases to fund services such as roads or schools cannot come directly from the state legislature but instead must go to a public vote, which has been historically difficult to pass at the state level. School districts can increase revenues at the local level through bonds (capital expenses) and mill-levy overrides (operational expenses), both of which, when well-planned and strategically implemented, can be instrumental in increasing opportunities for students, elevating the quality of our learning environments, and strengthening our public schools.

By 2008, the St. Vrain Valley district had not passed a mill-levy override after several failed ballot initiatives in previous years. With new district leadership (Superintendent Don Haddad, began his tenure in 2008) and a small group of concerned parents, a coalition came together to define a strategy that would forever shift the trajectory of St. Vrain from a district with low community trust and financial instability to one with national and international accolades as a world-class educational institution.             

Shifting the Message

One of the most significant changes the St. Vrain Valley school system has made since 2008 was shifting our message and our value proposition across the community.  At the core of any relationship—whether it is between spouses, friends, or a parent and child—is a foundation of trust and how each person in the relationship perceives each other in the context of their values, priorities, and beliefs. The same holds true for organizations and the greater public. Your brand is built on the public’s perception of your value in their lives. Do you enrich my life? Are you trustworthy and follow through on your mission? Do your core values align with my core values?

Leading into 2008, St.Vrain’s messaging had focused on a deficit mindset: Our schools do not have enough resources to adequately serve our community, so we need you to invest more. With the previous failed ballot initiatives, it was clear that this approach was not working.

Public education is the only industry that tries to inspire support by emphasizing perceived deficits. It would be the same as a car company showing an ad with a car lacking all necessary safety features and asking you to spend more to purchase it so that it could build a better car in the future. If we want to truly engage our community in our mission and our greater value, we must ensure that we are aligning our message to that purpose.

We looked to the famous John F. Kennedy quote, and instead of asking the community what they would do for us, we told the community what we were going to do for them. The quality of our public schools strengthens the economy, increases residential and commercial property values, builds the workforce of the future, enhances public safety, and is the cornerstone to a strong democracy.

Not only did we educate and inspire our community to believe in the value and purpose of public education—we passed both a bond and mill-levy override in 2008 with a majority of community support—we also followed through on promises made to show our voters that their investment in our schools is an investment in a more vibrant community.

Cultivating Informed Parent and Community Leadership

A shift in messaging should not focus on a single campaign or objective. Authentic and sustainable change must become part of the fabric of your organization and be a consistent priority. From the parent leaders who were engaged with district leadership in 2008 to address school funding issues, a call to action emerged to empower more informed leadership across our parents and community to advance our public schools. From that momentum, Leadership St. Vrain was born.

Leadership St. Vrain is a program designed to provide parents and other community members the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of our district’s mission, operations, and strategic priorities. The program is especially beneficial for those who want to obtain a foundation in district operations and governance and become more active participants in St. Vrain Valley schools and the community. Each year, the program cohort is selected through an application process and represents a diverse community that spans all schools in St. Vrain. Participants meet monthly during the school year with district and community leaders to discuss topics that include district budget and financing, governance, legislation, community engagement, hiring, assessment, special education, student services, school safety, operations, technology, and more.

Entering its 11th year this fall, Leadership St. Vrain has hundreds of graduates from the program who have gone on to be informed and powerful advocates. It is no longer just the district championing the quality and value of our public schools but an entire community that is invested in our continued success.

Strengthening Our Communities

After the success of the 2008 ballot initiatives and the implementation of programs such as Leadership St. Vrain, the St. Vrain Valley community also passed a mill-levy override in 2012 and a bond initiative in 2016.

While there are numerous initiatives, partners, and programs that have significantly contributed to the success of St. Vrain Valley schools over the past decade—including our industry, corporate, and nonprofit partners; implementation of full choice across 70 instructional focus programs; and earning the prestigious federal Investing in Innovation (i3) and Race to the Top grants—aligning our messaging to our purpose and engaging our community as true stakeholders was instrumental to the high levels of support that are accelerating innovation and student achievement across our schools.

Building a foundation of community support through messaging and community engagement is something that all districts can do to advance public education across our nation.

Advancing Public Education Together: Parent Leadership, Powerful Messaging, and the Strength of the Community

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August 14, 2019, 9:41am  |  St Vrain Valley School District
By Don Haddad, Ed.D., the superintendent, and Kerri McDermid, the chief communications and global-impact officer, both of St. Vrain Valley Schools

Read this story in education Week

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” The famous line from John F. Kennedy resonates with many who understand the impact our communities can have on advancing the greater good.

Our communities play a significant role in either accelerating or slowing the advancement of our public schools. An informed public who believes in the mission of education and understands the value of high-quality public schools bring to their lives (regardless if they have school-aged students) provides a foundation from which our education system can strengthen our society. Without their trust, investment, and support, we cannot remain successful in our mission to provide all students with the education and opportunities that will give them a strong competitive advantage in a complex, globalized world.

St. Vrain Valley Schools—the seventh-largest district in Colorado and home to more than 33,000 students across 13 communities—has spent more than a decade cultivating a relationship with its community that has been the nexus for implementing systemic and strategic change. This has forged a path toward transformation from a school district on the brink of bankruptcy to one that is nationally and internationally recognized for innovation and parent leadership.

A District at a Crossroads

In 2008, St. Vrain found itself at a crossroads. It had stabilized its budget after making significant sacrifices and staffing cuts following a $13.8 million shortfall in 2002 and was preparing for a looming national recession with expected significant additional cuts to education funding in Colorado. Revenues would need to increase if the district wanted to provide the high-quality education that our students deserve, but community trust and support was at a low.

In Colorado, tax increases to fund services such as roads or schools cannot come directly from the state legislature but instead must go to a public vote, which has been historically difficult to pass at the state level. School districts can increase revenues at the local level through bonds (capital expenses) and mill-levy overrides (operational expenses), both of which, when well-planned and strategically implemented, can be instrumental in increasing opportunities for students, elevating the quality of our learning environments, and strengthening our public schools.

By 2008, the St. Vrain Valley district had not passed a mill-levy override after several failed ballot initiatives in previous years. With new district leadership (Superintendent Don Haddad, began his tenure in 2008) and a small group of concerned parents, a coalition came together to define a strategy that would forever shift the trajectory of St. Vrain from a district with low community trust and financial instability to one with national and international accolades as a world-class educational institution.             

Shifting the Message

One of the most significant changes the St. Vrain Valley school system has made since 2008 was shifting our message and our value proposition across the community.  At the core of any relationship—whether it is between spouses, friends, or a parent and child—is a foundation of trust and how each person in the relationship perceives each other in the context of their values, priorities, and beliefs. The same holds true for organizations and the greater public. Your brand is built on the public’s perception of your value in their lives. Do you enrich my life? Are you trustworthy and follow through on your mission? Do your core values align with my core values?

Leading into 2008, St.Vrain’s messaging had focused on a deficit mindset: Our schools do not have enough resources to adequately serve our community, so we need you to invest more. With the previous failed ballot initiatives, it was clear that this approach was not working.

Public education is the only industry that tries to inspire support by emphasizing perceived deficits. It would be the same as a car company showing an ad with a car lacking all necessary safety features and asking you to spend more to purchase it so that it could build a better car in the future. If we want to truly engage our community in our mission and our greater value, we must ensure that we are aligning our message to that purpose.

We looked to the famous John F. Kennedy quote, and instead of asking the community what they would do for us, we told the community what we were going to do for them. The quality of our public schools strengthens the economy, increases residential and commercial property values, builds the workforce of the future, enhances public safety, and is the cornerstone to a strong democracy.

Not only did we educate and inspire our community to believe in the value and purpose of public education—we passed both a bond and mill-levy override in 2008 with a majority of community support—we also followed through on promises made to show our voters that their investment in our schools is an investment in a more vibrant community.

Cultivating Informed Parent and Community Leadership

A shift in messaging should not focus on a single campaign or objective. Authentic and sustainable change must become part of the fabric of your organization and be a consistent priority. From the parent leaders who were engaged with district leadership in 2008 to address school funding issues, a call to action emerged to empower more informed leadership across our parents and community to advance our public schools. From that momentum, Leadership St. Vrain was born.

Leadership St. Vrain is a program designed to provide parents and other community members the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of our district’s mission, operations, and strategic priorities. The program is especially beneficial for those who want to obtain a foundation in district operations and governance and become more active participants in St. Vrain Valley schools and the community. Each year, the program cohort is selected through an application process and represents a diverse community that spans all schools in St. Vrain. Participants meet monthly during the school year with district and community leaders to discuss topics that include district budget and financing, governance, legislation, community engagement, hiring, assessment, special education, student services, school safety, operations, technology, and more.

Entering its 11th year this fall, Leadership St. Vrain has hundreds of graduates from the program who have gone on to be informed and powerful advocates. It is no longer just the district championing the quality and value of our public schools but an entire community that is invested in our continued success.

Strengthening Our Communities

After the success of the 2008 ballot initiatives and the implementation of programs such as Leadership St. Vrain, the St. Vrain Valley community also passed a mill-levy override in 2012 and a bond initiative in 2016.

While there are numerous initiatives, partners, and programs that have significantly contributed to the success of St. Vrain Valley schools over the past decade—including our industry, corporate, and nonprofit partners; implementation of full choice across 70 instructional focus programs; and earning the prestigious federal Investing in Innovation (i3) and Race to the Top grants—aligning our messaging to our purpose and engaging our community as true stakeholders was instrumental to the high levels of support that are accelerating innovation and student achievement across our schools.

Building a foundation of community support through messaging and community engagement is something that all districts can do to advance public education across our nation.

Leadership St. Vrain Accepting Applications for 2019-20 Cohort

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Leadership St. Vrain, a nationally and internationally recognized program of excellence in community engagement and public participation, is now accepting applicaitons for its 2019-2020 cohort.

Designed to give parents and community members the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of district operations and exchange ideas, the program is especially appropriate for those who want to obtain a foundation in district operations and governance and become more effective participants in school district affairs. Each cohort of Leadership St. Vrain has representation from all schools in St. Vrain, who learn, share, and interact with district and community leaders to strengthen public education in our community.

2019-2020 Meeting Schedule
(All meetings run from 9:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and are held at a different school location each month.)

September 6: District Overview, Engagement Process
October 4: District/State Budget & Funding
November 8: District Governance & Legislation
December 13: Classroom Leadership & Assessment Tools
January 10: Digital Learning & Technology
February 7: Student Services & Special Education
March 15: School Culture, Engagement & Safety
April 10: District Operations & Construction
May 15: A 21st-Century Competitive Advantage

Click here to learn more and apply

Community Strong: district website platform builds, represents collaborative community

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We all know the adage, it takes a village. But what exactly is that proverbial ‘village’? The long answer may be complex, but the short answer is simple: it’s all about community. When it comes to St. Vrain Valley School District, community is and always has been of the utmost importance. Now we have one more resource that serves to build, reinforce, and highlight the strength or and emphasis upon our community – Community Strong.

Launched last August, 2018, to district high schools, the Innovation Center, and the Career Development Center, Community Strong is a community engagement campaign that includes a web platform that facilitates and enhances partnerships between the district and the wider community. “St. Vrain has always partnered well with the community-at-large,” says district Director of Community and Business Development, Matthew Wiggins. “We’ve built relationships on a local level, and also with large, corporate industries. Now we have an opportunity to not just facilitate the best collaborative opportunities, but also to measure the impact.”

The way it works, Wiggins explains, is simple and straightforward. Interested partners create a profile through the Community Strong website, noting schools and programs to support, interests and skills, and types of engagement, from classroom presentations, facility tours, to internships. Organizations and schools post their individual interests and needs, and the platform matches schools with interested partners. Individuals and schools receive emails allowing each to explore opportunities.

The Community Strong initiative has been wildly successful, particularly given the small sample size, Wiggins says. Through the soft launch, roughly 300 new individual connections have been made between schools and community members. As of this August, Community Strong will be rolled out to all schools and departments, including elementary, middle, and charter. With this rollout, many new exciting partnerships will doubtless be forged. What’s more, these collaborations are steadily bringing about an increasingly dynamic range of benefits for all concerned.

Enhances learning outcomes for students
Through engaging partnerships, real-world examples make learning all the more relevant, and not just when it comes to specific industry expertise. Opportunities to work with and learn from community partners highlight the importance of key skills such as teamwork, communications, and building relationships. Through everything from guest speakers to job shadowing to actual employment, SVVSD students have the world at their fingertips.

“We’re connecting schools with businesses and organizations who offer their time as presenters and volunteers, and so much more,” Wiggins says. “There are internships and apprenticeships, too. Over the summer, we successfully partnered with a Boulder-based tech firm to create five paid internships for students at the Innovation Center – the school’s first – and place five other manufacturing students in high-tech apprenticeships. We’re further working on opportunities for students to earn college credit.”

All those partnerships serve not only to enhance, but to guide learning. Built programs expose students to community work, empowering them with vision and purpose. They also improve curriculum, aligning the latest industry needs with coursework.

Builds a future workforce
“Education and workforce development are so intertwined,” says Erin Jones, Executive Director of Workforce Boulder County, a nonprofit which offers a wide variety of services to job seekers and businesses, including training opportunities, career exploration, and job skills development. “Our missions intersect in so many areas. I utilize the platform knowing it helps streamline the goal of tying our communities together and accelerating our individual organizations.”

Oftentimes, work-based learning doesn’t just enhance education, it serves to allow students to complete their education. For example, Workforce Boulder County frequently works with youth who have struggled in traditional classrooms. Alongside work-based learning, Workforce Boulder County supports students in earning their GED. Students gain access to role models and opportunities for growth and success. “Together, we’re building a pipeline of workers who can live here, stay here, and be the talent that industry, and our community, needs,” Jones says.

Sustains and grows our thriving community
Community Strong’s success showcases integral alignment of goals throughout our community. “All businesses and organizations recognize the value St. Vrain brings to our community, impacting quality of life and potential for and development of industry based here,” says Jessica Erickson, Longmont Economic Development Partnership President and CEO. “The question in the past has been, ‘how do we connect and contribute to that’. Community Strong has provided a platform to be that point of connection, for industry and individuals to take advantage of what the district has to offer and also to contribute, to give back.”

The Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce is among numerous organizations which have partnered with St. Vrain Valley Schools for many years. Over those years, the Chamber has provided and contributed to a range of student opportunities, explains Kathy Stevens, Business Director of Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has employed high school interns for committees and events, for instance; Education Committee and Chamber members volunteer in the schools and at district events; Education Committee funds SVVSD’s Doing Democracy Day as well as two high school students half tuition to the Chamber’s Leadership Longmont program; and, fifth graders have had a field trip to the Chamber’s PEAK event the past two years to learn about manufacturing and technology companies in our community. “Businesses being able to offer their expertise to help students grow and learn about business works both ways,” Stevens says. “Students learn about job opportunities they might not have known existed, and businesses have the chance to tell students what they are looking for in a good employee. The Chamber and Education Committee are excited to be part of building that bridge.”

Ultimately, Community Strong contributes to a landscape where everyone wins. Interested in contributing, or learning more?

Visit the community Strong websit at communitystrong.svvsd.org

Join Us: Superintendent Community Meetings

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St. Vrain Valley Schools is one of the fastest growing and most innovative school districts in the nation. This is a result of strong leadership and a commitment to strengthening infrastructure, technology, high-quality instruction and overall student achievement. This success is also built upon interconnected partnerships with our teachers, staff, students, families, business and corporate partners, elected officials, and other members of the community. As St. Vrain launches the start of the 2019-2020 school year, our Superintendent, Don Haddad, Ed.D., will host a series of community discussions beginning in September. These meetings will focus on the educational priorities of our community including student achievement, infrastructure and growth, financial accomplishments, school safety, and local and national trends in education. All community members are highly encouraged to attend any or all of the following meetings scheduled across our school district. Please join St. Vrain Valley Schools in charting our future, exploring the possibilities that lie ahead, and celebrating our successes. 

Childcare for students ages 4-12 is available with registration – space is limited. 

Dates and Locations

All events will run from 5:30-6:30 p.m.9/10 at Silver Creek High School
9/12 at Erie High School
9/17 at Mead High School
9/24 at Niwot High School
10/1 at Longmont High School
10/3 at Skyline High School
10/10 at Frederick High School
10/15 at Lyons Middle/Senior  

 Las Escuelas de St. Vrain Valley son uno de los distritos más innovadores y que están creciendo de la manera más rápida en la nación. Esto es como resultado de un fuerte liderazgo y el compromiso para fortalecer la infraestructura, la tecnología, la enseñanza de alta calidad, y el rendimiento académico en general de los estudiantes.    Este éxito es fundado en base a las asociación y colaboración con nuestros maestros, personal, estudiantes, padres, negocios, y socios de corporativos, y las autoridades elegidas. A manera que St. Vrain arranca el inicio del año escolar 2019-2020, el Superintendente de las Escuelas de St. Vrain Valley, Don Haddad, Ed.D., llevará a cabo una serie de conversaciones en la comunidad empezando a principios del mes de Septiembre. Estas reuniones se centrarán en las prioridades educativas de nuestra comunidad, incluidos el rendimiento académico estudiantil, la infraestructura y el crecimiento, los logros financieros, la seguridad escolar y las tendencias educativas locales y nacionales.  Se les da la bienvenida a todos los miembros de la comunidad para que asistan a cualquiera de las juntas, o todas si así lo desean, programadas en toda la comunidad de nuestro distrito escolar. Únase a las escuelas del Valle de St. Vrain para trazar nuestro futuro, explorar las posibilidades que tenemos por delante y celebrar nuestros éxitos.   

El cuidado de niños para estudiantes de 4 a 12 años está disponible con inscripción; el espacio es limitado. 

Horas, Fechas y Lugares

Todos los eventos se llevarán a cabo de 5:30 a 6:30 p.m.9/10 at Silver Creek High School
9/12 at Erie High School
9/17 at Mead High School
9/24 at Niwot High School
10/1 at Longmont High School
10/3 at Skyline High School
10/10 at Frederick High School
10/15 at Lyons Middle/Senior 

The World Needs More Entrepreneurs

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It is late afternoon on a Wednesday at the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools, and young entrepreneurs from around the world are standing in front of a 20-foot tall green screen. They are filming short videos about their ideas to solve huge problems like hunger and substance addiction. As part of a partnership with Boulder’s Watson Institute, a training ground for next-generation innovators and entrepreneurs, St. Vrain Valley Schools and Watson Institute students are learning how to pitch – a critical skill in today’s business world.

Today is just your average day at the Innovation Center’s new Entrepreneurial Zone.

When you hear the word “entrepreneur” – what comes to mind?

Your local shopkeeper, a small business owner or a brave risk-taker putting their livelihood on the line to create something new?

The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools and its new Entrepreneurial Zone are trying to expand the definition of an entrepreneur and the way we think about entrepreneurship. “Our goal for the Entrepreneurial Zone is to create a way for students to live their purpose,” says Zone teacher and program developer, Jeff Lund. “We want to help students find out what they were meant to do, instead of doing something they were told to do.” As a result, St. Vrain’s new program focuses as much on the entrepreneurial mindset as the actual mechanics of starting a business.

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ENTREPRENEURS

By some estimates, the world needs 600 million new jobs by 2025 to handle the growing workingage population. Business leaders like Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies, point out that these jobs aren’t likely to come from big corporations, but instead from entrepreneurs and small businesses. The skills required to succeed as an entrepreneur, including creative thinking, problem solving, innovation, and tenacity, are valuable skills to learn and bring to any career.

St. Vrain is creating tomorrow’s entrepreneurs with support from Community Strong partners like the Daniels Fund.

When the Daniels Fund, a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, heard about the fledgling Entrepreneurial Zone program they immediately recognized its uniqueness. In the fall of 2018, the organization provided a significant investment to quickly expand the program’s reach and offerings. According to Linda Childears, President & CEO of the Daniels Fund, the foundation is “excited about supporting the Innovation Center because it not only helps students develop critical entrepreneurial skills, it also gives them the opportunity to work with businesses, gaining experience that can prepare them to launch their careers when they complete school.”

The Daniels Fund’s investments are already having a significant positive impact on St. Vrain students like Kerly Baltierrez Rodriguez, a student at Skyline High School. 

Kerly started out on the Innovation Center’s studio team, where she learned film production and presentation skills. Now, she’s putting those skills to work in the Zone by producing a short documentary series about career options. Her first subject is a young entrepreneur – and fellow St. Vrain graduate – who is selling her own handmade guitars. Kerly loves how the program is giving her a chance to explore and share her own vision. “I’m glad that we can show someone living her passion,” says Kerly. “I think we can inspire students to pursue the career they want, and push themselves to achieve their goals.”

On-the-job education: Flourishing partnership with Anark Corporation provides Innovation Center students with skills, real-world opportunities

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Imagine: you are invited into an opportunity to pilot cutting-edge product for a leading provider of manufacturing and engineering software. Simply write up a thoughtful test plan to get started. Stumped? Reach out to any of the following students: Davita Bird (senior, Niwot HS); James Tran (senior, Niwot HS); Erik Sorenson (senior, Niwot HS); Matthew Fuller (junior, APEX); and Ashwini Shrestha (junior, Skyline HS). The five motivated students recently completed a landmark, four-week, paid internship offered by Anark Corporation resulting from the company’s budding partnership with the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools.

Boulder-based Anark Corporation develops and markets software products for companies in technical industry, serving companies such as GE, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and many others, with a worldwide network of technology and implementation partners. “We found out about the Innovation Center and were entirely intrigued by the work that they are doing,” says Anark CTO Scott Collins. “We think SVVSD is leaping ahead of surrounding CO school districts in STEM education, and seems to have a solid grasp on what colleges and employers need from graduating seniors.”

Collins met with Robotics and Computer Science Coordinator at the Innovation Center Axel Reitzig, St. Vrain Valley Schools Director of Community; along with SVVSD Business Development Matthew Wiggins, they generated a plan to adapt the corporation’s existing college internship program to work with younger students. Students were invited to apply for one of the five positions following a competitive, real-world process. They submitted resumes and cover letters, earning invitations to interview. “They did very well,” Reitzig says of all students who applied. “I’m very excited for what this means for St. Vrain’s workforce development.”

Throughout July, the five students earned $15/hour working 15 hours/week testing software. Students were asked to develop testing plans for the cloud-hosted product, impressing mentors Axel Larsson and Lucas Peterson, Anark Solutions Engineers, with ideas, enthusiasm and initiative. Larsson and Peterson set up a system allowing students to test the product and communicate with them from within the infrastructure of the Innovation Center. Additionally, Larsson and Peterson traveled to the IC to meet with the students weekly. “It was great to have kids coming through, becoming aware of the things we work with,” Larsson says. “The students offered a unique perspective. They found some bugs we’d missed.”

For students, the experience reaped rewards. In addition to the summer income, each earned a semester’s credit. Moreover, they gleaned a wealth of knowledge and skills. “The Anark Internship gave me a firsthand application to the design process outside of an academic setting,” says Tran. “I realized that this process is essential to launching any new product.”

“The Anark Internship impacted me by teaching me meaningful information about making a test plan and working with my peers on a single goal,” says Shrestha. “Although we were separated into different parts of the website, we worked together and continuously checked in with each other and our mentors from Anark which was a significant factor in our success with the test plan.”

What’s next for this promising partnership? Anark Corporation places genuine value on nurturing relationships and encouraging young talent, says Larsson, who himself started with the company as an intern from CU Boulder. “Our hope is to expand the program, to involve more students through the Innovation Center for longer periods of time, and add an option for a more advanced Solutions Engineering internship role, which requires more technical experience,” says Collins. “The summer program was a success; the IC interns made important contributions to our quality engineering efforts!”

On-the-job education: Flourishing partnership with Anark Corporation provides Innovation Center students with skills, real-world opportunities

Posted on

August 13, 2019, 9:24am  |  St Vrain Valley School District

Imagine: you are invited into an opportunity to pilot cutting-edge product for a leading provider of manufacturing and engineering software. Simply write up a thoughtful test plan to get started. Stumped? Reach out to any of the following students: Davita Bird (senior, Niwot HS); James Tran (senior, Niwot HS); Erik Sorenson (senior, Niwot HS); Matthew Fuller (junior, APEX); and Ashwini Shrestha (junior, Skyline HS). The five motivated students recently completed a landmark, four-week, paid internship offered by Anark Corporation resulting from the company’s budding partnership with the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools. 

Boulder-based Anark Corporation develops and markets software products for companies in technical industry, serving companies such as GE, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and many others, with a worldwide network of technology and implementation partners. “We found out about the Innovation Center and were entirely intrigued by the work that they are doing,” says Anark CTO Scott Collins. “We think SVVSD is leaping ahead of surrounding CO school districts in STEM education, and seems to have a solid grasp on what colleges and employers need from graduating seniors.”  

Collins met with Robotics and Computer Science Coordinator at the Innovation Center Axel Reitzig, St. Vrain Valley Schools Director of Community; along with SVVSD Business Development Matthew Wiggins, they generated a plan to adapt the corporation’s existing college internship program to work with younger students. Students were invited to apply for one of the five positions following a competitive, real-world process. They submitted resumes and cover letters, earning invitations to interview. “They did very well,” Reitzig says of all students who applied. “I’m very excited for what this means for St. Vrain’s workforce development.” 

Throughout July, the five students earned $15/hour working 15 hours/week testing software. Students were asked to develop testing plans for the cloud-hosted product, impressing mentors Axel Larsson and Lucas Peterson, Anark Solutions Engineers, with ideas, enthusiasm and initiative. Larsson and Peterson set up a system allowing students to test the product and communicate with them from within the infrastructure of the Innovation Center. Additionally, Larsson and Peterson traveled to the IC to meet with the students weekly. “It was great to have kids coming through, becoming aware of the things we work with,” Larsson says. “The students offered a unique perspective. They found some bugs we’d missed.” 

For students, the experience reaped rewards. In addition to the summer income, each earned a semester’s credit. Moreover, they gleaned a wealth of knowledge and skills. “The Anark Internship gave me a firsthand application to the design process outside of an academic setting,” says Tran. “I realized that this process is essential to launching any new product.”  “The Anark Internship impacted me by teaching me meaningful information about making a test plan and working with my peers on a single goal,” says Shrestha. “Although we were separated into different parts of the website, we worked together and continuously checked in with each other and our mentors from Anark which was a significant factor in our success with the test plan.” 

What’s next for this promising partnership? Anark Corporation places genuine value on nurturing relationships and encouraging young talent, says Larsson, who himself started with the company as an intern from CU Boulder. “Our hope is to expand the program, to involve more students through the Innovation Center for longer periods of time, and add an option for a more advanced Solutions Engineering internship role, which requires more technical experience,” says Collins. “The summer program was a success; the IC interns made important contributions to our quality engineering efforts!”

The World Needs More Entrepreneurs

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August 13, 2019, 9:13am  |  St Vrain Valley School District

It is late afternoon on a Wednesday at the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools, and young entrepreneurs from around the world are standing in front of a 20-foot tall green screen. They are filming short videos about their ideas to solve huge problems like hunger and substance addiction. As part of a partnership with Boulder’s Watson Institute, a training ground for next-generation innovators and entrepreneurs, St. Vrain Valley Schools and Watson Institute students are learning how to pitch – a critical skill in today’s business world.

Today is just your average day at the Innovation Center’s new Entrepreneurial Zone.

When you hear the word “entrepreneur” – what comes to mind?

Your local shopkeeper, a small business owner or a brave risk-taker putting their livelihood on the line to create something new?

The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools and its new Entrepreneurial Zone are trying to expand the definition of an entrepreneur and the way we think about entrepreneurship. “Our goal for the Entrepreneurial Zone is to create a way for students to live their purpose,” says Zone teacher and program developer, Jeff Lund. “We want to help students find out what they were meant to do, instead of doing something they were told to do.” As a result, St. Vrain’s new program focuses as much on the entrepreneurial mindset as the actual mechanics of starting a business.

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ENTREPRENEURS

By some estimates, the world needs 600 million new jobs by 2025 to handle the growing workingage population. Business leaders like Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies, point out that these jobs aren’t likely to come from big corporations, but instead from entrepreneurs and small businesses. The skills required to succeed as an entrepreneur, including creative thinking, problem solving, innovation, and tenacity, are valuable skills to learn and bring to any career.

St. Vrain is creating tomorrow’s entrepreneurs with support from Community Strong partners like the Daniels Fund.

When the Daniels Fund, a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, heard about the fledgling Entrepreneurial Zone program they immediately recognized its uniqueness. In the fall of 2018, the organization provided a significant investment to quickly expand the program’s reach and offerings. According to Linda Childears, President & CEO of the Daniels Fund, the foundation is “excited about supporting the Innovation Center because it not only helps students develop critical entrepreneurial skills, it also gives them the opportunity to work with businesses, gaining experience that can prepare them to launch their careers when they complete school.”

The Daniels Fund’s investments are already having a significant positive impact on St. Vrain students like Kerly Baltierrez Rodriguez, a student at Skyline High School. 

Kerly started out on the Innovation Center’s studio team, where she learned film production and presentation skills. Now, she’s putting those skills to work in the Zone by producing a short documentary series about career options. Her first subject is a young entrepreneur – and fellow St. Vrain graduate – who is selling her own handmade guitars. Kerly loves how the program is giving her a chance to explore and share her own vision. “I’m glad that we can show someone living her passion,” says Kerly. “I think we can inspire students to pursue the career they want, and push themselves to achieve their goals.”

Community Strong: district website platform builds, represents collaborative community

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August 13, 2019, 8:02am  |  St Vrain Valley School District

We all know the adage, it takes a village. But what exactly is that proverbial ‘village’? The long answer may be complex, but the short answer is simple: it’s all about community. When it comes to St. Vrain Valley School District, community is and always has been of the utmost importance. Now we have one more resource that serves to build, reinforce, and highlight the strength or and emphasis upon our community – Community Strong. 

Launched last August, 2018, to district high schools, the Innovation Center, and the Career Development Center, Community Strong is a community engagement campaign that includes a web platform that facilitates and enhances partnerships between the district and the wider community. “St. Vrain has always partnered well with the community-at-large,” says district Director of Community and Business Development, Matthew Wiggins. “We’ve built relationships on a local level, and also with large, corporate industries. Now we have an opportunity to not just facilitate the best collaborative opportunities, but also to measure the impact.” 

The way it works, Wiggins explains, is simple and straightforward. Interested partners create a profile through the Community Strong website, noting schools and programs to support, interests and skills, and types of engagement, from classroom presentations, facility tours, to internships. Organizations and schools post their individual interests and needs, and the platform matches schools with interested partners. Individuals and schools receive emails allowing each to explore opportunities. 

The Community Strong initiative has been wildly successful, particularly given the small sample size, Wiggins says. Through the soft launch, roughly 300 new individual connections have been made between schools and community members. As of this August, Community Strong will be rolled out to all schools and departments, including elementary, middle, and charter. With this rollout, many new exciting partnerships will doubtless be forged. What’s more, these collaborations are steadily bringing about an increasingly dynamic range of benefits for all concerned. 

Enhances learning outcomes for students

Through engaging partnerships, real-world examples make learning all the more relevant, and not just when it comes to specific industry expertise. Opportunities to work with and learn from community partners highlight the importance of key skills such as teamwork, communications, and building relationships. Through everything from guest speakers to job shadowing to actual employment, SVVSD students have the world at their fingertips. “We’re connecting schools with businesses and organizations who offer their time as presenters and volunteers, and so much more,” Wiggins says. “There are internships and apprenticeships, too. Over the summer, we successfully partnered with a Boulder-based tech firm to create five paid internships for students at the Innovation Center – the school’s first – and place five other manufacturing students in high-tech apprenticeships. We’re further working on opportunities for students to earn college credit.” All those partnerships serve not only to enhance, but to guide learning. Built programs expose students to community work, empowering them with vision and purpose. They also improve curriculum, aligning the latest industry needs with coursework. 

Builds a future workforce

“Education and workforce development are so intertwined,” says Erin Jones, Executive Director of Workforce Boulder County, a nonprofit which offers a wide variety of services to job seekers and businesses, including training opportunities, career exploration, and job skills development. “Our missions intersect in so many areas. I utilize the platform knowing it helps streamline the goal of tying our communities together and accelerating our individual organizations.” Oftentimes, work-based learning doesn’t just enhance education, it serves to allow students to complete their education. For example, Workforce Boulder County frequently works with youth who have struggled in traditional classrooms. Alongside work-based learning, Workforce Boulder County supports students in earning their GED. Students gain access to role models and opportunities for growth and success. “Together, we’re building a pipeline of workers who can live here, stay here, and be the talent that industry, and our community, needs,” Jones says.  

Sustains and grows our thriving community

Community Strong’s success showcases integral alignment of goals throughout our community. “All businesses and organizations recognize the value St. Vrain brings to our community, impacting quality of life and potential for and development of industry based here,” says Jessica Erickson, Longmont Economic Development Partnership President and CEO. “The question in the past has been, ‘how do we connect and contribute to that’. Community Strong has provided a platform to be that point of connection, for industry and individuals to take advantage of what the district has to offer and also to contribute, to give back.” The Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce is among numerous organizations which have partnered with St. Vrain Valley Schools for many years. Over those years, the Chamber has provided and contributed to a range of student opportunities, explains Kathy Stevens, Business Director of Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has employed high school interns for committees and events, for instance; Education Committee and Chamber members volunteer in the schools and at district events; Education Committee funds SVVSD’s Doing Democracy Day as well as two high school students half tuition to the Chamber’s Leadership Longmont program; and, fifth graders have had a field trip to the Chamber’s PEAK event the past two years to learn about manufacturing and technology companies in our community. “Businesses being able to offer their expertise to help students grow and learn about business works both ways,” Stevens says. “Students learn about job opportunities they might not have known existed, and businesses have the chance to tell students what they are looking for in a good employee. The Chamber and Education Committee are excited to be part of building that bridge.” Ultimately, Community Strong contributes to a landscape where everyone wins. Interested in contributing, or learning more?

Learn more about Community Strong
St. Vrain Valley Schools