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MORGRIDGE MEANS
2017 DEAN’S REPORT
• Provide physical education equipment, training, and curriculum to 35 underserved school districts • Create models to improve university principal preparation programs across the U.S. As we look to the future, we do so with optimism and momentum. A $400,000 national Institute of Education Sciences Grant is funding what is believed At the Morgridge College of Education (MCE), we believe that education serves as the foundation and means for transformation within our society. The University of Denver has a long-standing reputation for excellence, inclusion, and innovation. Our faculty are leading national conversations on public policy, addiction recovery, and early childhood education. Our students are serving the community through the College’s counseling clinic, two on-campus model demonstration schools, as well as in community organizations and schools. Our alumni are promoting diversity and social justice in leadership roles across the country and around the world. Over the last twelve months, national grants have allowed us to affect positive change
to be the first-of-its-kind coalition to study the teacher residency program model. A record-number of Counseling Psychology MA students will be using their National Minority Fellowship awards to enhance their addiction counseling skills. And, we have hired several new faculty who are poised to make an immediate impact both locally and nationally. People are often surprised at the depth, scope, and impact of Morgridge College. Perhaps we gain our inspiration from the powerful Rocky Mountains we see each morning. Or perhaps it’s the potential we see in the individuals we serve within our communities. Regardless of the motivation, Morgridge is committed to being more, doing more, and bringing about more positive change in the year ahead.
by helping us to: • Design post-secondary educational programs for adults with Down Syndrome • Develop online digital tools to teach math skills to young children
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Karen Riley, PhD
Dean and Professor Morgridge College of Education University of Denver
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P RO G R A M S
2
INS TI TU TE S
Child, Family & School Psychology Counseling Psychology Curriculum and Instruction Early Childhood Special Education Library and Information Science Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Higher Education Research Methods & Statistics Teacher Preparation
Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy Kennedy Institute for Educational Success
49 TOTAL FACULTY 33
90% FULL-TIME FACULTY
DEGR EES
2
10
CL I NI CA L
PR OF ESSOR S OF PR A CTI C E
868 STUDENTS
STUDENTS
1 EdS 3 EdD 6 PhD
Fisher Early Learning Center Ricks Center for Gifted Children
MODEL SCHOOLS
100%
OF INCOMING STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
68% White/Caucasian 12% Hispanic or Latino 7% African-American or Black 5% Multiracial 4% International 3% Asian American
127
STUDENTS RECEIVED A GA, FELLOWSHIP, OR ASSISTANTSHIP
$14.8M TOTAL GRANT FUNDING
$11M
IN GIFT FUNDING OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS
OF GRADUATES WERE EMPLOYED OR ENROLLED IN GRAD SCHOOL WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF GRADUATION
AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIP AID
$2.8M IN NEW GRANT FUNDING
174
PUBLICATIONS
58
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
STUDENTS GRADUATED IN 2016/2017
97%
$10.8M INCLUDING
493
72% FULL-TIME
8 Master’s
TEN URED / TENURE-TRAC K
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STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
22
4 Certificate
MOST ACCREDITED COLLEGE AT DU
20+
SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS IN THE DENVER METRO AREA
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prepared
MCE GRAD LEADS OAKLAND SCHOOLS THROUGH INTENSE SEASON When MCE grad Devin Dillon accepted the role of Interim Superintendent for the Oakland Unified School District in February, she knew she was stepping into a challenge. Half the students in her district, where she’d been deputy superintendent for two and a half years, speak different languages at home (over 50 languages in all), and the new U.S. president was vowing to ban and deport immigrants. On top of that, Oakland Unified, one of the most diverse districts in the country, was facing a financial crisis and tough decisions about potentially closing schools. Students and families were understandably upset. But Dillon’s work in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) program prepared her well. She graduated in 2011
with a PhD in Educational Administration, and her passion for urban education eventually landed her in Oakland. “The skills I gained at MCE, like systems thinking, for example, gave me everything I needed to lead the district through a really challenging time,” says Dillon. In her dissertation, “Teachers’ Perceptions of Leadership in High Poverty Schools,” Dillon looked at what key traits principals at high-performing, high-poverty schools have in common. “That research has really informed my work,” she says. Her interim position ended in July, and Dillon is now bringing her passion to the nonprofit New Leaders as national senior executive director.
Learn more about the nationally-recognized Educational Leadership and Policy Studies department at: morgridge.du.edu/educational-leadership-policy-studies-dept 4
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collaboration
SIX-YEAR GRANT ADDS MUSCLE TO RURAL PE PROGRAMS Matt Lucero is the sole physical education teacher for all 220 kids in the Sierra Grande school district, K through 12. During summers, he coaches basketball and farms with his dad. And, until a few years ago, he was also scrambling to create curricula from scratch. When Nick Cutforth, chair of the Department of Research Methods and Information Science, first met Lucero and other PE teachers from the arid expanse of Colorado’s San Luis Valley, he heard how alone they felt without support. As a former PE teacher himself, Cutforth knew the importance of strong PE curriculum and resources: “For many kids, school is the only place they’re getting any physical activity.”
So Cutforth, together with colleagues at the Colorado School of Public Health, worked to secure over $5 million of funding from the Colorado Health Foundation. This six-year grant equipped more than 35 small, rural school districts in southern Colorado with new equipment, ongoing professional development, and the acclaimed SPARK PE curriculum. “The results were better than any other national study using the SPARK curriculum,” says Cutforth. Lucero, who teaches at the same school he once attended, is grateful for the relationships and resources he’s gained. “It’s great to know the kids are getting the activity they need,” he says. “It’s not just about throwing a ball around.”
For more about the innovative programs within the Research Methods and Information Science department, go to: morgridge.du.edu/research-methods-information-science-dept MORGRIDGE.DU.EDU
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opportunities
STUDY INCREASES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME For most 20-somethings, the biggest concerns for a dinner out are what to wear and where to eat. But, for young adults with Down Syndrome, basic dining skills like how to order or make conversation may require training. Devadrita Talapatra, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences, is leading nationally recognized research into what kinds of teaching techniques can best equip this population with skills like these. “It’s about inclusion,” says Talapatra. “How can we help this population continue to grow and learn beyond high school?” Funded by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and in partnership with
Colorado State University, Talapatra and her team conducted a 40-week pilot study with 20 adults with Down Syndrome. The group studied four topics for 10 weeks each—physical fitness, nutrition, safety, and communication skills—while researchers looked at which learning formats best increased participation (lecture style vs. small group learning, verbal vs. visual instruction, etc.). Their findings will help influence universal learning design in post-secondary institutions. “This program is poised to have a pronounced impact on educating this population,” says Morgridge Dean Karen Riley, who helped secure the grant for this study. “It’s showing us how to capitalize on their strengths and support their challenges.”
Learn more about the inspiring work being done throughout the Teaching and Learning Sciences department at: morgridge.du.edu/teaching-learning-sciences-dept 6
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relevance
ADDICTION PROGRAM BRINGS HOPE TO FIELD OF MENTAL HEALTH In Colorado, there are only two boardapproved clinical consultants for gambling addiction, and Mike Faragher, director of the Addictions Specialization program in the Counseling Psychology Department, is one of them. But, with gambling addiction on the rise—and the rate of teenage gambling disorders three to five times higher than adults—virtually every therapist, trained or not, is dealing with its effects. Add to that the opioid epidemic, and it’s clear why MCE’s Addictions Specialization program is proving so valuable. “Our students are so much better prepared to work in any area of mental health because addiction touches so many patients,” says Faragher. “Even if a patient
isn’t an addict, often their parents, siblings, or other loved ones are.” For Riley Cochran, his own journey as a teen made addiction counseling, specifically for adolescents, a personal passion of his. He graduated in 2017 with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Addictions Specialization and is already working with teens at an intensive residential treatment center. “Adolescence is such an inconsistent and confusing time period,” says Cochran, “especially when there are broken systems in place. My hope was to work in a treatment center like the one I’m at, and it feels great to actually be here helping kids who need it.”
Read more about the Counseling Psychology department’s engaged community in their “Living Our Values” blog located at: morgridge.du.edu/counseling-psychology-dept MORGRIDGE.DU.EDU
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innovation
NEW PARTNERSHIP OPENS THE DOOR TO MORE MCE STUDENTS For Amy Connerton, who teaches for Colorado Mountain College (CMC) in the Vail Valley, attending weekly classes in Denver is not an option. Based on her remote location, she’s had to delay her professional development—until recently. This year, through a groundbreaking partnership with CMC, Morgridge adjusted its Doctor of Education program (EdD) to accommodate the CMC faculty and administrators scattered throughout Colorado’s mountains. Instead of coming in two days a week, these EdD students travel to MCE once a month for a full day of classes and consultation. The rest of the program is administered online through distancelearning technology and highly interactive
online formats designed to ensure meaningful engagement between students and professors. “I teach online and I know it can be hard to help students feel part of it,” says Elizabeth Poulos, adjunct professor with CMC and an EdD student, “but with all the connectivity of this program, you really feel like you’re part of something real.” “This is an opportunity for us to contribute to the capacity-building of one of the most significant higher education institutions in Colorado,” says Ryan Evely Gildersleeve, chair of the Higher Education Department. “And it’s enabled us to think more expansively about all of our EdD students who are working full-time while pursuing their doctorate.”
Explore other ways the Higher Education department is impacting the public good at: morgridge.du.edu/higher-education-dept 8
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support
A BIG WIN FOR MCE MEANS A BIG WIN FOR KIDS When Jen Bartsch greets her new kindergarteners in Rugby, North Dakota, each fall, she knows every student walks in with a unique set of needs. She just doesn’t know what they are yet.
won the prestigious Central REL (Regional Educational Laboratory) award and, as a result, Marsico is now helping to support early childhood education in seven states, including North Dakota.
Soon, thanks to Morgridge’s Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy, she’ll be better equipped to support her students from day one. Marsico is helping North Dakota teachers use data from early childhood assessments to better understand and meet specific classroom needs.
“We’re excited that our REL partnership allows us to serve America’s urban, rural and tribal populations,” says Morgridge Dean Karen Riley.
Marsico is known nationally for early childhood expertise so, when the U.S. Department of Education’s largest grant came up for bid, Marzano Research Laboratory, one of the primary bidders, wanted Marsico on its team. Together they
“We get to provide knowledge and resources to groups that haven’t had access to it before,” says Dr. Carrie Germeroth, assistant director of research at Marsico. “And, through the REL, we get to be a thought partner for state and local education agencies.”
Explore Marsico’s ground-breaking work and educational resources located at: du.edu/marsicoinstitute MORGRIDGE.DU.EDU
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inclusion
MCE SPOTLIGHTS EMERGING COLLEGE RITUALS AMONG LATINO STUDENTS Currently only 15 percent of Latinos who begin postsecondary education complete a bachelor’s degree—and 100 percent must navigate an environment that’s, at best, complex and, at worst, hostile. The odds are not in their favor. But Ryan Evely Gildersleeve, associate professor of Higher Education, sees reason to hope. Throughout 15 years of working with Mexican migrant families, he’s built relationships with many students who’ve become the first college graduates in their families, and he’s noticed some interesting trends. Often these graduates invite him to a “Latino Graduation Celebration” in lieu of their college commencement.
“It strikes me as a really beautiful expression of Latino culture and achievement in higher education,” he says. Gildersleeve has spent the last four years studying these ceremonies and other rituals that are changing how Latino students participate in the college community. His work, which includes articles like “Truth-Telling, Ritual Culture, and Latino College Graduates in the Anthropocene,” is furthering the national discussion on underserved, marginalized and diverse college constituents. “These are on-the-ground examples of Latino students innovating to make higher education relevant to their communities,” says Gildersleeve. “The cultural significance should not be understated.”
For more examples of Morgridge College’s commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence, go to: morgridge.du.edu/morgridge-means-more/diversity 10
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scholarship
FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
WALLACE FOUNDATION AWARD
In addition to having research and co-authored papers featured in Forbes and the Washington Post, Jesse Owen, PhD, Counseling Psychology, has received the status of APA Fellow. The honor recognizes APA members who have shown evidence of outstanding contributions in the field of psychology resulting in national impact.
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, under the direction of department chair Susan Korach, EdD, was selected to participate in a $47 million Wallace Foundation initiative. Over the next four years, researchers will develop models to improve university principal preparation programs and to examine state policy.
ENDOWED CHAIR
EARLY CAREER AWARD
Norma Hafenstein, PhD, Teaching and Learning Sciences, has been named the Daniel L. Ritchie Endowed Chair in Gifted Education, a position which reflects the University of Denver’s long history of commitment to gifted education through service to gifted children, training of and support of doctoral research around giftedness.
Pat Garriott, PhD, Counseling Psychology, has been named the recipient of the Society of Vocational Psychology’s (SVP) Early Career Professional Award. The distinction recognizes new professionals who have made substantial or cutting edge contributions to the field of psychology and demonstrate a commitment to continued research in vocational psychology.
BOOK PUBLICATION
LIFETIME RECOGNITION
Krystyna K. Matusiak, PhD, Library and Information Science, co-authored the book Discover Digital Libraries: Theory and Practice published by Elsevier. The textbook presents theoretical and practical perspectives of digital archives relevant to researchers, practitioners, and students.
William E. Cross, Jr., PhD, Counseling Psychology, has been nominated for the APA’s Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Application of Psychology. The award recognizes a distinguished career and enduring contribution to advancing the application of psychology.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
CURRICULUM FEATURED ON PBS
Jessica Lerner, EdS, Teacher Education Program, was appointed to the Denver Public School’s Strengthening Neighborhoods Initiative. Lerner will provide thought leadership in addressing gentrification, racial and socioeconomic diversity, and issues of school consolidation in neighborhoods hit by rising housing costs and low birth rates.
Drs. Douglas Clements and Julie Sarama, Marsico Executive Directors, were featured on PBS Newshour for their “Building Blocks” curriculum. Working with funding from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Institute of Educational Sciences, Clements and Sarama have created professional development plans that are being deployed in classrooms across the nation.
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achievement
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
8 NATIONAL ADDICTION FELLOWSHIPS
8 NATIONAL ADDICTION FELLOWSHIPS
Riley Cochran, Christelle Cook, Demi Folds, Megan Kenney, Elizabeth Kidd, Kathleen Larkin, Stephanie Nisle, and Jessica Thompson, Counseling Psychology MA students, received highly competitive fellowships from the National Minority Fellowship Program for Addiction Counselors (NMFP-AC). The fellowships are awarded by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) and seek to increase the number
of culturally-competent master’s level addiction counselors available to serve underserved and minority populations. The student recipients will receive tuition stipends of up to $15,000, receive support to attend the NAADAC Annual Conference, and participate in training and mentorship projects designed to enhance their inclusion competency in working with diverse cohorts and transitional age youth.
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT
FULBRIGHT-HAYS FELLOWSHIP
Varaxy Yi Borromeo, Higher Education PhD student, has been recognized as the Asian Pacific American Network’s Outstanding Graduate Student of 2017. The award is presented by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Coalition for Multicultural Affairs (CMA) and seeks to promote diversity within the changing cultural dynamics of higher education.
Meseret Hailu, Higher Education PhD student, has been awarded a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education. Hailu will travel to Ethiopia to conduct her dissertation research on the factors that lead to the persistence of women in undergraduate science and technology majors at Ethiopian universities.
UCEA JACKSON SCHOLAR
APA FELLOWS
Isaac Solano, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies PhD student, was selected by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) as a 2016-18 Jackson Scholar. The Jackson Scholars Network provides students of color with opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and networking.
Helen Chao and Courtney Hadjeasgari, Counseling Psychology MA students, were selected as 2017-18 American Psychological Association (APA) Services for Transition Age Youth (STAY) Fellows, and will receive up to $6,000 each to support their training as mental health professionals and practitioners.
COLLEGE LEADERSHIP Teina McConnell and Eric Ward, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies PhD students, serve as the executive and assistant director of the Pickens Technical College in Aurora, Colorado, which was named the number one Best Community College in Colorado by BestColleges.com. 12
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impact
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS
FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR
100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
Janet Lee, MS, Library Information Science, ’78, has been named a Fulbright Scholar and will be researching at Aksum University in Ethiopia. Lee’s goal is to build upon her expertise in open access publishing to ensure that faculty and students have unfettered access to collective scholarship.
Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, Early Childhood Special Education, ’86, was named one of the 100 influential people in occupational therapy by the American Occupational Therapy Association in 2017. Miller is currently the founder and executive director of the first comprehensive sensory processing disorder (SPD) research program, the Star Institute.
FULBRIGHT CANADA CHAIR
MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARD
Barri Tinkler, PhD, Curriculum and Instruction, ’04, has been awarded the Fulbright Canada Research Chair and will be at the University of Calgary in spring 2018, researching the work of the Calgary faculty to better inform the field of teacher education for all countries that undertake refugee resettlement.
Jennie Schmaltz, MA, Curriculum and Instruction, ’09, was awarded the prestigious Milken Educator Award which includes a $25,000 cash prize and is recognized by Teacher magazine as the “Oscar of Teaching.” Schmaltz splits her time between teaching third grade and serving as a Teacher Partner, providing instructional coaching for other teachers at Elkhart Elementary in Aurora, CO.
SHANGHAI CURRICULUM DIRECTOR
NATIONAL TEACHING AWARD
Juli Kramer, PhD, Curriculum and Instruction ’10, has begun working with the Multicultural Division of the Soong Ching Ling School (SLCS) in Shanghai, China, where she serves as the Director of Curriculum for grades 6-8 and is developing curricula for a new high school.
Kari Colley, PhD, Curriculum and Instruction, ’15, has received the John Laska Dissertation Award in Teaching from the American Association for Teaching and Curriculum (AATC). Each year, the AATC recognizes two outstanding dissertations in teaching and curriculum that best represent the mission of the organization.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Kendra Carpenter, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, ’16, has been selected by the Colorado Association of Elementary School Principals (CAESP) and the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) as the 2017 recipient of the Reba Ferguson Memorial Rookie
of the Year Award. The award is given annually to a Colorado administrator in his or her first three years as an elementary school principal and honors elementary school principal Reba Ferguson, who tragically died in a traffic accident on her way to work in 2008.
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engagement
Intentional engagement is at the heart of everything that happens at Morgridge. While education starts in the classroom, it finds its voice through dynamic engagement within each program and throughout the community — allowing us to come together around the most difficult challenges of our time.
10-YEAR ACCREDITATION The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has received accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the next 10 years. MPCAC recognizes scientifically based psychology and counseling training programs that integrate science and practice for both practitioners and scientists working in applied areas.
REIMAGINING THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
HUMOR, ACTIVISM, AND SOLIDARITY
Best-selling author and award-winning columnist, Jeffrey Selingo, was on campus to inspire students and leaders to reimagine the college and university of the future in a rapidly changing economy. Selingo’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Slate, and his work has been honored with awards from the Education Writers Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Associated Press.
Michelle Fine, PhD, distinguished CUNY professor, activist, and author, encouraged the re-examination of the role that radical humor plays in activism and solidarity as experienced by Muslim Americans and LGBTQIA/GNC youth of color. Fine was principal investigator for the 2001 report “Changing Minds: The Impact of College in a Maximum-Security Prison,” which is recognized as the primary empirical basis for the contemporary college in prison movement.
TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
Frank Worrell, PhD, from the Graduate School of Education at UC Berkeley, provided the keynote address at the annual Gifted Education Conference on campus. Worrell addressed the theme of “Transformational Leadership: Inspirations & Issues in Gifted Education.” Worrell is a member at large on the board of directors of the American Psychological Association (APA) and editor of the Review of Educational Research.
The 8th annual Students of Color Reception gave MCE students of color a forum to discuss their experiences as first-generation and underrepresented students. The student panel addressed topics such as funding of graduate degrees, work-life balance, and stressed the value of the cohort model used at Morgridge College.
To learn more about our college, community impact, and how you can contribute to MCE’s
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about our graduate programs.
DIVERSITY LEADER JOINS MCE
NATIONAL IES GRANT
Mark E. Engberg, PhD, has accepted the position of Associate Dean. Engberg comes to MCE from the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago where he served as lead professor in the Higher Education and International Higher Education Faculty program. Engberg specializes in access and opportunity in higher education.
Morgridge has been awarded a $400,000 national Institute of Education Sciences grant that will bring together one of the largest coalitions of leaders from both higher education and non-profit organizations. The two-year grant will enable researchers to dissect what makes teacher residency programs effective, and how to enhance areas of need.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
NATIONAL POLICY LEADER JOINS FACULTY
Counseling psychology students and their director, Andi Pusavat, PhD, at the MCE Counseling and Educational Services Clinic, believe in engaging with the community they serve. They display that commitment by attending health fairs, providing free screenings, educating the community on their sliding-fee scale, and supporting worthy causes – like taking the Polar Plunge in support of the Special Olympics.
Kim Hunter Reed, PhD, executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, has joined the MCE Higher Education Department. Reed has a substantial background in higher education, having served as deputy undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Education. In addition to teaching Public Policy, Reed will co-lead a national policy symposium at MCE in spring 2018.
MODEL SCHOOL ADDS NEW DIRECTORS
GIFTED CENTER TOP 5 IN THE STATE
Hema Visweswaraiah, MA, ECE/ECSE, and Yoshie Matsubara, MS, have been hired as the new Director and Assoc. Director of the Fisher Early Learning Center. Both specialists bring a wealth of child development background to these positions. Fisher is nationally accredited by NAEYC, rated by Colorado Shines, and specializes in research-validated programming.
Ricks Center for Gifted Children, a nationally recognized gifted school operated by Morgridge College, was recently named a Top 5 Private School in Colorado by Colorado Parent Magazine. The Ricks Center provides a dynamic and challenging educational environment to approximately 250 students from preschool through eighth grade.
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303-871-2509 | 800-835-1609 MCE@DU.EDU
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