Eagle Rock School in Estes Park Opens Applications for Fifth Changemaker Cohort

Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center in Estes Park has opened applications for its Fifth Changemaker Cohort, a national program designed to help student-educator teams transform their schools into more equitable and inclusive learning environments. The program launches February 16-20, 2026.

The year-long professional development initiative brings together six pairs of adults and students from schools across the United States to focus on leadership development, equity-driven school improvement, and strategies to strengthen belonging for all students. Applications are now open for the cohort through the program's website at changemakercohort.org.

"This program is about reimagining what's possible in schools," said Dan Condon, Associate Director of Professional Development at Eagle Rock School. "By partnering students and educators as co-leaders, we're cultivating the skills, courage, and community needed to disrupt inequities and create schools where every young person thrives."

The program operates through intensive workshops, collaborative discussions, and hands-on practice sessions led by expert facilitators. Participants design and launch action projects tailored to their individual school's needs, with ongoing coaching and support from Eagle Rock's Professional Development Center throughout the year.

Since launching in 2021, the Changemaker Cohort has supported schools nationwide in developing equity-focused innovations. Previous participating schools include institutions from across the country, such as Crosstown High in Tennessee, Fannie Lou Freedom High School in New York, Highline Big Picture in Washington, and Lake Arthur High School in New Mexico.

Each cohort team undertakes localized projects addressing areas such as increasing student belonging, integrating project-based assessments, and tackling racial and cultural disparities in student engagement and discipline policies. The program emphasizes creating meaningful change through youth-adult partnerships rather than traditional top-down approaches.

Eagle Rock School, located on a 640-acre campus in Estes Park, was established in 1993 by the American Honda Education Corporation. The school operates as a full-scholarship, year-round residential high school serving students ages 15-17 who have not found success in traditional educational settings. According to Eagle Rock School, all programming is funded entirely by the American Honda Education Corporation as part of the company's corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The Professional Development Center extends Eagle Rock's educational approach beyond its campus, working with educators and students nationwide on school transformation projects. The center's programs are supported through Honda's ongoing philanthropic investment, allowing participating schools to access professional development without typical tuition costs.

The upcoming Fifth Cohort builds on the program's focus on student-educator partnerships as drivers of systemic change. Teams participate in a national learning community while implementing locally relevant solutions to equity and engagement challenges in their home schools.

For schools interested in applying, the program seeks student-educator pairs committed to creating meaningful change in their local educational contexts. The application process and additional program details are available through the Changemaker Cohort website.