COpilot | COpilot

Cristina Vanzo

Cristina Vanzo is a middle school engineering teacher in rural Colorado who works to engage students in STEM-based curriculum through the use of design thinking. Having taught for 7 years in the classroom, she has taught multiple grade levels in a school district that provides 1:1 technology for students. Cristina sees that education is shifting and providing students with the skills they need to be successful in the future are more important today than it ever has been. She realizes that STEM careers are growing at a rapid rate and providing opportunities for students to problem solve and think creatively through the use of technology is essential to meeting these goals.

Ms. Vanzo has built Craig Middle School’s Engineering Program from the ground up and has been recognized by the Colorado Association of School Boards for the programs excellence and its ability to allow all students to succeed. She has brought the FIRST Lego Robotics League to her district and is passionate about the program’s ability to involve students in critical thinking and problem-solving skills. She has been trained on how to effectively implement problem and project-based learning into the classroom from the Buck Institute and uses this style of learning in all three grade levels that she teaches.

Cristina holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Learning and Technology from Western Governors University

Become a COpilot class facilitator!

Are you wondering what that little paper airplane on some facilitator photos means? Are you interested in teaching other teachers content and strategies that actually work? Do you want to be a leader in your Association? Would you like to make some extra money?

If you answered "Yes!" to any of these questions, then you should definitely consider becoming a COpilot class facilitator. The best part about facilitating classes to other educators on COpilot is learning with people from all over Colorado who are just like you. Every COpilot class gives you and other educators a chance to learn instructional and leadership strategies that truly make a difference in students' lives!

Facilitating classes on COpilot can definitely be intimidating, but the good news is that CEA supports you every step of the way. The process to become a facilitator, set up a class, and get to teaching is actually pretty easy. Just take a look at this short list:

Contact Casey Kilpatrick, the Director of Learning Services at the Colorado Education Association, and express your interest in facilitating a class.
Casey will arrange a time to meet with you via Zoom to discuss what you'd like to teach. We are always looking for new classes, so no topic is really out of bounds!
After the meeting, you'll need to fill out a syllabus so CEA can get the class approved for credit (we'll give you a template).
Once Casey receives the completed syllabus, he'll arrange another meeting to set up your class shell and walk you through the COpilot Learning Management System (LMS).
You'll then have the chance to build your class and get feedback from CEA about the process.
Once your class finishes, CEA will pay you for the number of students who completed your class (for more information about payment rates, please contact Casey Kilpatrick at CEA)

That's really all there is to it. CEA will take care of all the technical support, marketing, credit approval, evaluations, and other questions that come up. All you really need to do is work with amazing educators on a topic that fits your passions.

Now...what about that paper airplane?

Facilitators who earn that airplane means they are WINGS certified. All of those awesome Colorado educators have taken a rigorous, 30-hour, two graduate credit class all about online learning and facilitation. WINGS certified facilitators make more money per student who completes a class and have special recognition across the Association. To become a WINGS certified facilitator, you first must facilitate a class at the base level. You then need to complete the WINGS COpilot Proficiency Program that is offered every spring. Please contact Casey Kilpatrick at CEA for more information.