Colorado Educator Steps into Leadership through Albion Center Scholarship

“My neighborhood friends and I played school every chance we got,” she said. “Even as a kid, I knew I loved school and I knew I wanted to teach.”

Today Friedericks is a high school English teacher at Vista Ridge High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her early enthusiasm for education has shaped her vision as an educator. With classroom experience in multiple schools and under a variety of administrators, she has created a career driven by purpose, reflection, and growth.

“I’ve always aimed to be the type of teacher who’s engaging and caring, who holds students to high expectations while giving them all the support they need to meet them,” she said. “Over time, I’ve also begun to refine what kind of administrator I hope to become.”

Friedericks never saw herself leaving the classroom, but the longer she taught, her perspective changed. After earning a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction early in her career, she plans to begin a Master of Education in P-12 Education Administration at Idaho State University in Fall 2025.

“The more I’ve seen how school-wide policies and leadership affect culture, staff morale, and student achievement, the more I’ve realized I want to be part of that impact,” she said. “I want to be equipped to lead—not just in my own classroom, but in my school community.”

The opportunity to step outside the classroom and into leadership was made possible by the Albion Center Scholarship for Educator Excellence. After years of putting off further graduate study due to time and financial constraints, Friedericks found renewed energy through Albion Center professional development courses.

“Taking those [Albion] courses last summer and fall reignited my love for learning,” she said. “They reminded me that I do have time to grow professionally, and receiving the scholarship provided the financial support I needed to make this next step possible.”

She discovered Albion Center courses through recommendations from fellow teachers in both Illinois and Colorado. What started as a single course to meet recertification requirements, quickly turned into something more.

“The classes were practical and informative, and I could apply what I was learning right away,” she said. “They also offered an affordable way to earn salary advancement credit, which made it easy to keep going.”

Looking ahead, Friedericks plans to continue serving in Colorado public schools, this time with a broader lens and greater responsibility.

“I hope to learn how to positively influence school culture, support teacher development, and advocate for students’ needs,” she said. “I want to help shape public education in my school, my district, and beyond.”

The Albion Center Scholarship for Educator Excellence will provide Friedericks with up to $4,000 per semester, with a lifetime maximum of $16,000—helping her save nearly 70% on graduate tuition.