Addressing Education Strategies 2.1 & 3.1 The Public Allies Teaching Fellowship program at Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center supports new ways of teaching & learning that serve a once disengaged student population. This AmeriCorps program provides individuals with an advanced yearlong service and leadership development program focused on education and youth development at the nationally recognized Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center.

Eagle Rock is both a tuition-free residential high school that serves low income, diverse young people in order to improve educational and behavioral outcomes of students (ages 15-21) from across the country who have not succeeded in low performing schools, many had previously dropped out.

The Professional Development Center works with educators from around the country who wish to study how to re-engage, retain and graduate students. We provide consulting services at school sites and host educators who study and learn from Eagle Rock practices.

Through this unique teacher induction opportunity, AmeriCorps members gain skills that make them effective teachers, leadership trainers, and youth workers including teacher licensure through the Colorado Department of Education. The collective impact of our Alumni Network of over 10 years of Public Allies Teaching Fellows is influencing education nationally.

The impact is clear. Our students who had dropped out previously are graduating. Academically, the College and Work Readiness Assessment tests the impact schools have on the education of students by testing in four categories: analytic reasoning and evaluation, writing effectiveness, writing mechanics, and problem solving. According to nationally referenced assessment that test our students college and work readiness we have TWICE the effect or value-add to a students movement towards readiness for life after high school compared to high schools around the country. Behavior related, over the course of the year we have had 40 incidents that, at one time in the past, might have led to expulsion from Eagle Rock School. With the implementation of creative discipline processes like Restorative Justice, we have been able to retain 53% more students than in previous years. Culture-wise, our Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) study indicated that our Overall School Morale was 15% Excellent; 51% Very Good & 25% Good.

AmeriCorps Alumni Testimonial... “Wisdom is the heart of good teaching. From wisdom flows patience and understanding. With wisdom, I know the right counsel, I have the right words, and I know the when to say nothing. At Eagle Rock people are fond of saying that wisdom is not transferable. They mean, wisdom must be earned. This is true for students and staff alike. Fortunately, the Public Allies Fellowship program at Eagle Rock packs years worth of teaching wisdom into one year. When I completed the fellowship program, I not only had a license to teach high school, I had the wisdom to teach high school well.” -Andrew Barron, teacher at Cristo Ray Network