DREAM CITY 2020: Education can build foundation for a dream city

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is 19th in a series of columns about the future of the Pikes Peak region written by community leaders and visionaries. It's part of the going community initiative Dream City: Vision 2020. Give your input at dreamcity2020.com.


Picture a local graduating class of 2020.

Thanks to increased academic standards now expected of anyone entering the global work force, most, if not all, students have been accepted to some of the best colleges and universities in the country (some of which are based here in the Pikes Peak region).

Some of them have attended charter schools or have gone through home-schooling.

Others have attended public school and have graduated with college credit in their field of study thanks to dual course credit programs now widely available. Then there are students who have learned a valuable trade in high school and decided to enter the work force directly after graduation with a professional certification earned at one of the various career academies that focus on health care, engineering, technology, and other developing fields.

With new, innovative approaches to public schooling, they have had more educational opportunities specifically developed for their learning styles and preferences. This has enabled them to become creative thinkers and problem solvers poised to take on the unique challenges of the 21st century.

They have had access to rapidly developing technology, and their school environment has been rich in opportunities to gain hands-on experiences in various fields of learning to ensure everyone is achieving at high levels.

The building in which their school resides has served as a multiuse gathering place to bring people together for local arts and culture and civic engagement. This has enhanced their education while building a stronger community where residents view their schools as a vital part of daily life.

In order to make this future a reality for the children of our community, there are things we need to do now to ensure the necessary progress is made. At District 49, we are working with students in middle school to develop individual learning plans to encourage long-term goal-setting that keeps students focused on academic achievement and helps parents and teachers measure progress through high school.

We've also developed relationships with local colleges and universities to provide dual-credit programs to our high school students while offering continued professional growth opportunities for our staff and teachers.

As the region continues to grow, Falcon District 49 is set to double in size by the year 2020. What this means for the broader community is that those who reside within our district and in eastern El Paso County will play an even larger role in determining the overall health of the region.

Our local businesses and residents currently work in concert with the district by supporting its programs, serving on committees to provide feedback on managed growth and more. It is only through these close collaborations that we can really achieve the results our region demands from its educational system.

The bar has been set high for today's youths, and it will take the support of the entire community to provide the requisite resources for our children so they can continue to thrive on the world stage. This will require an investment of time and resources, but the rewards will be great for the Pikes Peak region and the country as a whole.