AURORA — Edwin Hernandez-Corral grew up with dreams of one day becoming an electrician.
But the senior at Hinkley High School in Aurora enrolled in a district program that offers him real-life experiences in the health services industry.
He helped with patients and shadowed doctors. He even got to hold a human heart in his hands. Now Hernandez wants to be a cardiovascular surgeon and has a full-ride scholarship to college to do just that.
It is that kind of example that Aurora Public Schools used in announcing today the Community Workforce Planning Team initiative, a public-private partnership among more than 30 community groups and organizations.
It involves a five-year plan to align academics with economic development, or simply put, making sure students from elementary through high school get the instruction they need to go to college and succeed in the workforce of the future.
APS Superintendent John Barry says the program is addressing the “Colorado paradox.” The state has the second-highest percentage of adults with college degrees in the country, yet ranks 47th in percentage of high school graduates who go to college.
“A lot of our talent is imported from outside Colorado,” Barry said at a press conference attended by numerous dignitaries, students and members of the workforce team. “We want to change that trend.”
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
