In what has become a quintessential rite of any successful fund-raising effort, a representative from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) visited Metro Sept. 21 to hand over a colossal-sized version of a check for DOE grant money awarded to the college.

This wasn’t a big check in size only, though. It was also the biggest amount Metro has ever received in federal grant money -- $9.5 million.

Assistant Secretary of Education Sally Stroup traveled to Denver from Washington, D.C., to congratulate Metro State and its partner, Denver Public Schools, in receiving the five-year Teacher Quality Enhancement program grant.

“I can’t imagine that this isn’t going to be a successful partnership,” Stroup said at the press conference in St. Cajetan’s Center. “In fact, it has the potential to be one of the most successful TQE programs we’ve ever seen.”

Stroup lauded Metro, DPS and the local philanthropical and business community, notably the Fund for Colorado’s Future and Benson Mineral Group CEO Bruce Benson, who is chair of Metro’s Board of Trustees, for teamwork exhibited in the winning of what she said is a highly competitive grant.

Working in partnership with DPS, Metro will administer the grant, which will be used to implement the Secondary Teacher Enhancement Project. Metro’s 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.

To read more about the project’s goals go to
http://www.mscd.edu/%7Ecollcom/@metro/tw@metro_vol2/doegrant_twv2091504.htm