Teacher Education students honored at Capitol

PUEBLO –Colorado State University-Pueblo Teacher Education students Candice Trujillo and Erica Switzer were selected for the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) Future Educator Honor Roll and will be acknowledged at a ceremony at the state capitol from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 2. 

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, the ceremony recognizes outstanding students from Colorado’s educator preparation programs. CDHE Executive Director Dr. Kim Hunter Reed will give remarks beginning at 10:15 a.m. in the West Lobby of the Capitol, followed by Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne.

Switzer and Trujillo were nominated by CSU-Pueblo Teacher Education Program faculty and staff, who said in their nomination, “Erica and Candice are the embodiment of our mission, to develop teachers of quality and distinction. Both Erica and Candice are completers of the Teacher Pipeline Project, an initiative with Pueblo City Schools to better recruit and retain teachers.” 

Switzer has been an incredible asset to the Teacher Education Program. Her life experiences as both a mother and Army veteran have given her an outlook on life and teaching that is refreshing. Through her time in the program, Erica has served in many capacities, including being a mentor, an active member in the Teacher Education Association, and student support in the Curriculum Center. As a student in the Teacher Pipeline Project, she has consistently looked for ways to engage and motivate her students throughout her time at Franklin, and teachers at her school say they enjoy Erica's presence at the school. Erica has accepted an elementary education position at Ben Franklin Elementary in Pueblo City Schools.

A Pueblo native, Trujillo is a graduate of Pueblo City Schools and a first-generation Hispanic student. She applied for and was accepted to the Teacher Pipeline Project, a mutual project between the Teacher Education Program and Pueblo City Schools. In this setting, Candice has flourished as perhaps the top student teacher in her group. Hardworking, determined and passionate, she is the embodiment of what we want teachers to be. She will teach Special Education in Pueblo City Schools. She was the only undergraduate special education student selected.  

“This ceremony recognizes the tremendous impact our future educators will have on their students and the state of Colorado broadly,” said Dr. Reed. “Educators are training the next generation of artists, engineers, scientists and health professionals that will power our economy and enliven our communities. They truly make all other professions possible. We want all teachers and administrators—and especially our young educators—to know Coloradans support and appreciate their invaluable work.”    

Profiles of the candidates are available on the CDHE website.