Melanie A. Haas, an educator with 34 years of experience in Denver Public Schools—20 as a teacher and 14 in administration—has been hired to head up Metro's end of its partnership with DPS on the $9.5 million Teacher Quality Enhancement (TQE) grant.

"Melanie has the connections and knowledge of DPS to will help us tremendously," says Sandra Haynes, interim dean of the School of Professional Studies. "She also has a demonstrated track record of leadership."

Haas started at Metro on Feb. 1 and says she already has the passion for the TQE project. "Now the hard work is to come," she says "As we put the heart of the grant's goals in motion we're going to make wonderful, wonderful strides in student achievement."

Haas left her position as DPS northwest area superintendent to take charge of the grant—the largest in Metro's history. The Teacher Education Department and School of Letters, Arts and Sciences, along with DPS teachers, will be jointly involved in teaching and mentoring secondary teacher education students and new teachers hired from Metro's secondary teacher education pool.

According to Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Joan Foster, Haas has the expertise to understand what the grant is trying to do. "She has the experience to really pull this together," Foster says. "She'll be able to help the faculty fulfill the goals of the grant."

Haas will co-direct the grant with Debby Hearty from DPS.

To read more about the TQE grant go to
http://www.mscd.edu/%7Ecollcom/@metro/tw@metro_vol2/doegrant_twv2091504.htm