Pikes Peak BOCES Partner Districts to Launch Telecommunicator Course for High School Students
Calhan School District is one step closer to meeting its mission to offer students unlimited opportunities to succeed. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, students will have access to an Emergency Telecommunicator course, which will allow them to pursue a career with 911.
After the Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) received a Rural CoAction grant to increase career-connected learning programs, Calhan Schools led the initiative to bring this curriculum to eight of the Pikes Peak BOCES’ most rural member districts. The project is also a result of support to the Pikes Peak BOCES from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in an effort to provide public service career pathways.
“I am excited to work with community partners such as BOCES and the El Paso-Teller County 911 Authority, to ensure young adults from the Pikes Peak region have the opportunity to discover meaningful, opportunistic careers, right here in our own backyard,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “My Office is always looking to hire eager professionals to serve our community, and this program helps us to accomplish this! I thank Executive Director Pat Bershinsky and the team at BOCES for their collaborative work and effort, making this program a possibility.”
"The El Paso-Teller County 911 Authority welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the Pikes Peak BOCES to offer the Emergency Telecommunicator course to high school students to promote 911 as a career," said Ben Bills, public information officer with the El Paso-Teller County 911 Authority.
Pikes Peak BOCES Executive Director Pat Pershinsky said he is excited for the opportunity to partner with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the 911 Authority.
“This partnership will allow our rural area school districts to train 911 dispatchers in our area. The idea would be to supply our area with highly trained individuals for much-needed jobs now. And with an eye on the future, some of these trainees could possibly apply and complete the area police academy programs for a career in law enforcement,” he said.
Staff members from Calhan Schools and Miami-Yoder School District, another Pikes Peak BOCES member, are in training to become certified trainers in this critical field.
Press Release: November 15th, 2023
Contact: David Slothower, Superintendent, Calhan School District