Small Towns, big impact
What We Do
Our impact reaches students, families, superintendents, teachers, business and communities.
Students and Families
Young people deserve real choices when it comes to where they live and how they work. We prepare students for college and career success, increasing their earning potential and expanding their options. We believe:
All means ALL
EVERY student deserves a life of choice, prosperity, productivity, and self actualization.
Education is a lifelong endeavor
We’re here for our students from the moment they set foot in a Pre-K classroom to the day they graduate from college & launch their careers. Our alumni stay connected to CEN, often mentoring the next generation of students.
Superintendents and Teachers
Small-town educators are passionate about improving outcomes for their students—and it is not easy to access the resources they need to do so. Here’s how we help:
Partnership
We help rural districts access and navigate resources for dual credit programs, work- and project-based learning, 1:1 student support, professional development, additional funding, and more.
Programming
We develop and distribute initiatives designed specifically for rural schools, including Edu-Businesses and local STEM research.
Peer Networks
We harness the power of our network for collective purchasing, legislative voice, and peer sharing. Together, we’re helping rural districts innovate, collaborate, and catalyze change for their community.
Businesses & Communities
CEN connects talented young people to local industries through place-based research and work-based learning, strengthening the bond between communities and schools and creating new pathways for rural economic growth.
Rural Roots
CEN was developed in rural communities, for rural communities. We understand the unique challenges and defining strengths of small towns.
2-Way Engagement
CEN schools invite the community to participate actively in the school, through guest lectures, research projects, internships, and advising on program design.
Local Talent Development
Local employers mentor and train the next generation, reducing rural “brain drain” and sidestepping the difficulties of attracting and retaining new talent.
How We Help
We take a comprehensive approach to education, engaging whole communities in an effort that continues from the first day of Pre-K to the launch of a meaningful career.
Download our Playbook
An introductory guide for superintendents, principals, academic leaders, and board members of rural school districts in the CEN network.
Our Impact
Read our teacher & student features
Our Special Programs
CEN Texas Regional Pathways Network
CEN is excited to serve as the intermediary in two Texas Regional Pathways Networks.
CEN TWC Youth Robotics Program
In May, CEN received notice of a grant award of $575,000 from the Texas Workforce Commission to help nine schools in the CEN network create or expand a robotics program.
Americorps
In June, CEN received notice that we would be receiving a grant award in the amount of $402,741 from AmeriCorps to help eleven schools in the CEN network implement our proven model.
CEN Registered Apprenticeship Program
The CEN Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a combination of On-the-Job Training (OJT) and Related Technical Instruction (RTI) in which the apprentice learns the practice, theoretical aspects and concepts of the occupation.
CEN Texas Regional Pathways Network
CEN is excited to serve as the intermediary in two Texas Regional Pathways Networks. In February, Roscoe Collegiate ISD received funding from Texas House Bill 1525 to plan a renewable energy pathway network with Roscoe Collegiate ISD, Hamlin Collegiate ISD, and Floydada Collegiate ISD. They also received funds to implement an advanced manufacturing pathway network with Roscoe Collegiate ISD, Hamlin Collegiate ISD, and Throckmorton Collegiate ISD. The grant for both initiatives totaled $1,125,000, the bulk of which will be used to create advanced manufacturing labs with state-of-the-art equipment, furniture, and instructional materials. Funds have also been set aside to build a mobile manufacturing lab to provide training to teachers as well as exposure to students in elementary and middle school. Nearly $100,000 is allotted to the purchase of renewable energy training materials.
These two Texas Regional Pathways Networks are intended to be a collaboration of school districts, higher education, and industry in order to create all-encompassing pathways meeting the needs for students to learn employability and technical skills in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. The initiative is intended to be industry-led. Therefore we invite the feedback of our industry partners each month. We encourage the schools to plan work-based learning opportunities with employers. The schools also create pathways that will culminate in an industry-based certification, level 1 or 2 post-secondary certificate, associate degree, and bachelor’s degree thus providing multiple levels of opportunity to students.
CEN TWC Youth Robotics Program
In May, CEN received notice of a grant award of $575,000 from the Texas Workforce Commission to help nine schools in the CEN network create or expand a robotics program. After a couple of months of planning, we are excited to officially begin building these programs this month. The grant will pay for the supplies necessary for a robotics lab, robotics competition registration, travel for teams, training and stipends for teachers, and a mobile robotics workshop. The schools will be participating in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) which will supply a kit of parts, playing field, and technical assistance. The participating school districts are Cumby, Floydada, Hamlin, Hico, Iraan-Sheffield, Spurger, Sunray, Throckmorton, and Venus ISD’s. We are excited to assist in the creation of quality robotics programs in these schools.
Americorps
In June, CEN received notice that we would be receiving a grant award in the amount of $402,741 from AmeriCorps to help eleven schools in the CEN network implement our proven model. Since then, we have been working to recruit, train, and implement our first cohort of AmeriCorps service members who began on September 19. The CEN AmeriCorps project places members in different schools within our network as Instructional Support Specialists or Career Exploration Specialists. Instructional Support Specialists will work directly with school staff and faculty in a support role to assist in the instructional aspects of the model. Career Exploration Specialists will work with the community partners, businesses, and industry to support the career and college aspects of the model. We are extremely excited that the CEN AmeriCorps project is providing us the opportunity to provide additional support directly to our districts. Our first cohort placed members in Hamlin, Roscoe, and Cumby. We are still looking to fill member positions in Venus, Floydada, Iraan, Sunray, Bellville, Spurger, Lytle, and Freer.
For more information about CEN AmeriCorps, contact Kendall Guynes, AmeriCorps Program Director, at kguynes@edu-nation.org.
CEN Registered Apprenticeship Program
The CEN Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a combination of On-the-Job Training (OJT) and Related Technical Instruction (RTI) in which the apprentice learns the practice, theoretical aspects and concepts of the occupation. The program is designed to enhance and prepare the apprentice to be fully qualified in multiple aspects of the industry in which they are apprenticing. Depending on the RAP, apprentices will complete 2,000-6,000 hours of OJT and 144-432 hours of RTI. Some systems will be eligible for financial assistance.
Why apply?
For apprentices, this program offers an accelerated path into the industry they desire to build a career with access to a mentor and wage increases as skills are mastered. For participating employers, this program cultivates a well-trained workforce. CEN, as the program sponsor, serves to connect employers to apprentices.
Employer Benefits
- Increased knowledge transfer through on-the-job learning from an experienced mentor, combined with education courses to support work-based learning.
- Enhanced employee retention: 91% of apprentices that complete an apprenticeship are still employed nine months later.
- A safer workplace that may reduce worker compensation costs, due to the program’s emphasis on safety training.
- A stable and reliable pipeline of qualified workers.
- A systematic approach to training that ensures employees are trained and certified to produce at the highest skill levels required for the occupation.
Apprentice Benefits
- Alternative pathway into a dependable and lucrative career.
- Apprentices earn a living wage while learning their trade.
- Opportunity to gain a quality education with little to no debt in a shorter time frame.
- Hands-on career training and support from a knowledgeable and qualified mentor.
Who can apply?
To qualify for the RAP, candidates must:
- Be at least 18 and able to provide proof of age.
- Be a high school graduate or have their GED.
- Submit a DD-214 to verify military training (veterans only).
- Be physically capable of performing essential duties of the program, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Successfully pass a background check.
- Pass a drug screening if required by the employer.
- Possess a valid driver’s license and be insurable at normal commercial rates
If interested:
To learn more and show interest in participating, please fill out this interest form and contact CEN's Apprenticeship Team at bwilliams@edu-nation.org
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