This story was originally published by Chalkbeat.

DENVER | Sergio De La Rosa remembers the moment he knew he wanted to be a teacher.

He was running a Boys & Girls Club in Fort Morgan, providing after-school, summer, and fifth-day care to students in the four-day school district. Although Fort Morgan is diverse, De La Rosa said he saw how some Spanish-speaking families felt left out — and how the club’s programming was making a difference.

“I’d have kids and families come up to me and say, ‘Mr. Sergio, we miss you,’” said De La Rosa, who grew up in Colorado speaking Spanish at home. “That was the pivotal moment for me where I realized I’d like to be working with kids more directly.”

A new program is helping him realize his dream of teaching sooner than he thought possible. De La Rosa,

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