Couragion Finds Forever Home with MindSpark Learning

We have exciting news to share - the Couragion family is growing by 22 employees, one fantastic building, and a shared vision for inclusive change through workforce development experiences. Today, we become part of MindSpark Learning in a much-anticipated acquisition. I will join the MindSpark team as the Chief Strategy Officer. 

For those of you unfamiliar with MindSpark, it’s a Colorado-based nonprofit that delivers extraordinary and sustainable learning experiences for professionals to solve society’s biggest challenges. MindSpark’s global footprint will expand Couragion’s reach, accessibility, and influence on the education ecosystem. It increases our ability to further our goal of empowering human capital and unleashing collective impact. 

This isn’t our first endeavour with MindSpark. I’ve known MindSpark CEO Kellie Lauth since 2015 when she was the principal at one of the nation’s first STEM schools in the Adams 12 5-Star school district. Her school was one of Couragion’s first clients. Like myself, Kellie was (and still is) a fierce advocate for STEM education and passionate about creating inclusive work-based learning experiences that prepare students for jobs of the future. We knew then that we wanted to partner on something big.

A year later, STEMpath, a 24-hour graduate-level computer science (CS) certification program was born as a result of the confluence of my technology expertise and Kellie’s experiences in STEM education. Since its launch in 2019, it remains one of MindSpark’s most competitive professional learning offerings, proven to boost the capability and diversity of STEM and CS teachers, and increase the number of students ready to pursue STEM careers.

What does this mean for you? 

This news won’t change what you know and love about Couragion. We will continue to work together with educators and administrators, students, industry partners, and communities to reengineer education into a high-impact sector. Our combined teams and Couragion’s technology platform will offer our customers and partners more accessible and equitable solutions on a global scale.

We’re so thankful for the resources provided by our funders - the National Science Foundation (NSF), AT&T Aspire, and the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade. We’re beyond grateful for the unwavering support of our role models, mentors, and partners over the past 6.5 years.

For more information on the acquisition, check out our press release. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

MindSpark, like Couragion, models disruption. I’m thrilled to join an organization I love that values innovation, camaraderie, community, and celebration. We’re extraordinary, together. 

With gratitude, 

Mel