About Us

Our Mission

The fundamental mission of EPIC is to support our workforce needs by providing job ready skills to high school students and adults. Ensuring a labor force that meets the demands of the 21st Century workplace for our foreseeable future is the overall objective.
We are here to help generations break away from the cycle of low-paying hourly jobs, and towards prosperity.

Our History

The Colorado River Board of Cooperative Educational Services (CR BOCES) has served multiple school districts in Garfield, Pitkin and Mesa County since 1975. The BOCES has traditionally provided specialized support to districts, but has recently evolved to include teacher training, internships and project-based learning. Vocational opportunities have diminished over the last few decades, but a local alternative high school, Yampah Mtn High School, has been successful over the last decade in facilitating work study opportunities for students that often leads to meaningful jobs right out of high school. In the last five years, they have had 62 student successfully complete trade internships, mostly in the construction and auto trades. Last year, the BOCES hosted the first formal graduation ceremony for Yampah graduates going directly into the trades.

8300

Students supported online

CTE Teachers

Industry Partners

High Schools

On average 50% of students in the region do not go to college. Of those who do, only 27% work in their chosen field of study. Our industry partners are demanding a new way of providing quality workers who are job ready when they arrive.

This program is designed to engage students, their families and your communities. Our communities need to see what the future of education will be.This work will bring new excitement and hope for our families.

WHY WE ARE HERE

Every young person needs a first job, and for many, an internship provides that opportunity.
An internship provides exposure to a wide range of careers and jobs within the industry and a chance to explore a field of interest.
Students who participate in an internship experience higher graduation rates and better employment outcomes later in life. Internships are a way for students to understand why education is important (apply classroom-based learning to a real-life workplace).
Helps develop occupational knowledge and the ability to perform successfully in the workplace.
Offers an opportunity to develop, practice and demonstrate new skills and to learn what education and skills are needed to be successful in the industry.
Gives students a chance to develop adult and team relationships.

WHAT WE DO

The development of new CTE programs and pathways under the auspices of the newly formed EPIC Center presents unmatched opportunities to provide future workers with valuable skills and upward mobility. Programs will be designed to be complementary in nature, building spiraled skills that create deep learning opportunities that meet the requirements for meeting state standards, credentialing programs and business expectations. The programming will also incorporate a community minded approach where end products will be produced to help raise the good will for the region and provide ways for community partners to play a significant role in the outcomes for our students.
We want the youth to experience what it is like to thrive by helping generations break away from the cycle of low-paying hourly jobs. Together, we can build a system that is responsive to industry needs and has a core mission of educating anyone who wants to find a path forward in our new economy.