Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative

06/02/2026

Thank You, Pueblo Community College Southwest!

A huge thank you to Pueblo Community College Southwest for being an incredible partner and host for this year's Behind the Drywall program.

From faculty and staff to administration and custodial teams, everyone stepped up to make students feel welcome and supported throughout the week. Your willingness to collaborate, solve problems, and create a positive learning environment played a big role in the program's success.

We're grateful for your partnership and commitment to helping students explore careers, build skills, and discover new opportunities right here in Southwest Colorado.

Thank you for being such outstanding hosts and collaborators!

06/01/2026

Thank You, Choice Building Supply!

We want to extend a huge thank you to Choice Building Supply for their generous donation of tool bags filled with tools for every student who participated in this year's Behind the Drywall program.

Because of their support, students didn't just leave with new skills, industry connections, and career awareness, but they also left with tools they can use as they continue exploring opportunities in the building trades.

Thank you, Choice Building Supply, for believing in our students and helping equip the next generation of skilled trades professionals! This is the second year they have sponsored this program.

05/30/2026

🎉🔨 That’s a wrap on Behind the Drywall 2026! 🔨🎉

Our fourth and final day allowed students to put their skills, creativity, and perseverance to work through a variety of hands-on experiences in the building trades.

Students:

🔥 Learned the fundamentals of welding while creating their own metal cube project
🛠️ Explored the art and skill of drywall installation and finishing (thank you Willeford Paint & Restoration)
📦 Designed and built cardboard shelving structures, applying engineering concepts, problem solving, and teamwork along the way

Throughout the week, students explored a wide range of careers in the building trades while developing skills that will serve them in any pathway they choose—communication, problem solving, relationship building, resilience, adaptability, and professional presence.

Most importantly, they challenged themselves to try new things, ask questions, work with their peers, and gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities available right here in Southwest Colorado.

A huge thank you to our industry partners, instructors, and volunteers who shared their time, expertise, and passion with our students. Your investment is helping build the next generation of skilled professionals and informed career explorers. And thank you to Pueblo Community College Southwest for being an amazing host and partner!

And to our students: thank you for bringing your energy, curiosity, and willingness to learn each day. We can't wait to see where your future takes you!

05/29/2026

⚡ Day 3 of Behind the Drywall brought teamwork, competition, and hands-on electrical skills together for another fun day of learning! ⚡

Students spent the morning learning the basics of electricity by wiring and testing their own working doorbells — gaining firsthand experience with circuits, tools, and troubleshooting.

The afternoon shifted into team-based challenges that highlighted creativity, communication, problem solving, and collaboration through activities like:

🏗️ Marshmallow tower building competitions
🔨 Hammerschlagen
✏️ Construction Pictionary
🏠 House-part identification bingo

These activities may have looked like games, but they helped students practice many of the durable skills that matter in the workplace every day.

We wrapped up the day with our ongoing small group reflections and conversations, giving students time to connect their experiences, celebrate successes, and continue building relationships with one another.

One more incredible day of learning and growth in the books! 👏

05/28/2026

Day 2 of Behind the Drywall focused on both the technical skills and the human side of the trades.

We started the morning with an important conversation led by La Plata County Public Health around mental health and su***de prevention, which are topics that deeply impact both the building trades industry and mountain communities like ours. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help students understand the importance of looking out for themselves and others, both on and off the job site.

Students then jumped into hands-on learning by exploring the world of HVAC and sheet metal work, creating their own small metal trays while learning foundational skills and techniques.

The afternoon was spent with M&R Service getting an inside look at plumbing careers. Students practiced soldering, learned how to change out a toilet, and explored how hot water heaters work.

We wrapped up the day the same way we started, with intentional small group conversations and reflections, helping students process what they learned, build connections, and think about their future pathways.

Another great day of learning, growth, and hands-on exploration!

05/27/2026

Day 1 of Behind the Drywall is in the books!

What a great start to the week with our students diving headfirst into the world of the building trades. Today they had the chance to:

🧱 Build a wall
🚜 Get hands-on with small equipment (thank you Target Rental!)
🎮 Test their skills on a equipment simulator
💧 Laser engrave their own water bottles
💬 End the day in small groups reflecting on what they learned and sharing their hopes for the week ahead

But Behind the Drywall is about more than technical skills. Throughout the week, we’re intentionally weaving in conversations around the “soft skills” that matter in every career—communication, problem solving, relationship building, resilience & adaptability, and professional presence.

It’s been exciting to see students already stepping outside their comfort zones, trying new things, and building confidence. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the week brings!

05/14/2026

What exactly does an “intermediary” do, and why does it matter?

This recent video and article from The Attainment Network captures it well: intermediaries are the connectors, conveners, and catalysts that help education, industry, and community partners move from good intentions to real impact.

At the Collaborative, this is the work we do every day by bringing together school districts, higher education, employers, and community partners to build stronger pathways for students and meet the workforce needs of Southwest Colorado.

Often, the most important work happens behind the scenes: building trust, aligning priorities, solving problems, and creating opportunities that no one organization could accomplish alone.

We’re proud to serve as that bridge for our region and grateful to partners like The Attainment Network for elevating the importance of this work.

🎥 Check out their powerful message: https://vimeo.com/1185725556?fl=pl&fe=sh

Lasting systems change doesn’t happen by chance. It happens when schools, colleges, employers, and communities work together toward shared goals — and someone helps hold that work together. That’s the role of intermediaries. In this short video, learn how intermediaries like The Attainment Net...

05/04/2026

Our team had a great time volunteering at the Durango Wine Experience in April while also sharing the work of the Collaborative with our community!

We added a fun twist by asking participants to “vote with their dollars” on which careers our region needs most right now:

🥇 Building Trades — $87
🥈 Healthcare — $54
🥉 Environment & Natural Resources — $40

Every dollar raised, along with a $2,500 volunteer grant, goes directly back into supporting our programs and expanding opportunities for students across Southwest Colorado.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, shared their perspective, and supported our work! Special thanks to our gracious hosts at Lizard Head Trading Company!

04/24/2026

Over 60 students from Dolores and Dove Creek joined us for Environmental Career Day at Mancos State Park yesterday! It may have been a chilly day, but that didn’t impact student engagement. Students stayed curious, asked thoughtful questions, and fully participated in hands-on career exploration throughout the day.

Students rotated through interactive stations led by amazing partners, learning about ecology, stewardship, and environmental careers in action. A huge thank you to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Mountain Studies Institute, Dolores River Boating Advocates, USDA Forest Service - San Juan National Forest, and the CPW K-9 Unit for sharing your time, expertise, and passion with students.

Dolores School District Re-4a Dove Creek Schools

04/13/2026

In case you missed it, our 2024–2025 SWCEC Annual Report highlights a year of strong partnerships and growing opportunities for students across Southwest Colorado.

Last school year alone:
• 1,493 students in pathway-aligned courses
• 194 industry credentials earned
• 723 students connected with employers at career & hiring fairs
• 217 students participated in career day field trips
• 76 students in immersive summer institutes

We’re already seeing even stronger participation and momentum this school year, and we’re excited to keep building pathways from classroom to career across our region.

Take a look at the full report: https://canva.link/swcec2425