CES LEAP

About LEAP

Leading Educators through Alternative Pathways (LEAP) is an intensive and innovative approach for a year-long alternative licensure program tailored to prepare teachers to be successful in New Mexico’s diverse classrooms. With the collaboration of stakeholders in education, LEAP was designed to be application-based, asking participants to immediately utilize strategies they learn, and is practitioner-focused, drawing heavily from teachers’ daily problems of practice. Thus, candidates will be required to work in a classroom setting as a teacher-of-record.

The "Late Hire" application process for CES LEAP 2024-2025 Cohort 6 is closed.

Applications for Cohort 7 will open in March 2025.

Mission Statement

CES LEAP is committed to developing quality educators while demonstrating compassion and holding high expectations for culturally responsive teaching and learning across the state of New Mexico. LEAP uses evidence-based strategies to train, coach, and inspire teachers to engage students in ways that make them feel important, cared for, and valued.

LEAP’s vision is that every teacher has foundational teaching skills, demonstrates special education best practices understanding and application and that every teacher takes on the responsibility of applying research-based reading strategies to diverse learners. Curriculum is standards-based, evidence-based, assessment-based, and student-based engaging candidates in an innovative approach to teacher preparation and coupled with mentoring.

LEAP Curriculum and Supports

Instruction includes face-to-face and online modules (270 hours).

Candidates will be required to attend a pre-service summer institute beginning late-July.

Monthly seminars in their designated region (Saturday 8-4:30pm/1 x month).

District mentor collaboration is required with candidate referrals. Additional LEAP mentor supports are available.

Candidates receive instruction in both areas and are able to test and apply for both a General AND Special Education License (candidate must be teacher-of-record to apply for each license).

Curriculum includes required reading coursework.

Program Costs

Semester One July- December .……. $1500

Semester Two January- June ……….. $1500

(Includes: curriculum, instruction, feedback, mentoring and additional supports)

Application  Fee  ………………………….. $50

Estimated Book Cost ……………………. $350.00

Candidate Costs Associated with Travel for the Summer–Institute and Regional Monthly Training…..$ (lodging, meals, gas, etc.

Why LEAP was right for me

Our Team

Alexis Esslinger

LEAP Program Director

Jessica Powell

LEAP Facilitator (Literacy)

Tim Flores

LEAP Facilitator (Foundations)

Rene Rohrer

LEAP Facilitator (Special Education/Special Populations)

Angela Stock

LEAP Coach, Las Cruces

Kelly Bowles

LEAP Coach, Roswell

Lauren Butcher

LEAP Coach

Michelle Padilla

LEAP Coach

Ronda Davis

LEAP Coach

Sonia Trujillo

LEAP Coach

Suzanne Zamora

LEAP Coach

Yvette Lujan-Flores

LEAP Coach

Delores Lujan

LEAP Administrative Assistant
Resources

LEAP Statistics 2022-2023

Cohorts

Counties Served

Schools Partnered

New Teachers Prepared

Contact Leap

Find us on Facebook!

To collaborate with LEAP on your teacher preparation initiatives, contact Alexis Esslinger

For invoicing/billing, please contact Delores Lujan

Contact us

Our office

10601 Research Rd SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123

Phone

(505) 344-5470

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
© 2024 CES

LEAP Director

Alexis Esslinger

Alexis Esslinger is a native New Mexican and brings 19 years of experience as an educator to her work as Director of LEAP. Her experience as a special education teacher, gifted site specialist, English teacher and department chair, coach, assistant principal and Director of Teacher Education inform her understanding and considerations within teacher preparation.

As a mother and writer, she is passionate about teaching and learning and enjoys working to create inclusive educational landscapes that nurture and develop efficacy and empowerment among learners and partnerships that build community.

Alexis serves as the elected co-chair of Deans and Directors (NMACTE), is on the New Mexico Professional Practices & Standards Board (PPSC). She began her teaching career in Fairfax County Public Schools after earning her BA in Elementary Education from ENMU and her MA in Education & Human Development from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.. Her Ed. S. in Leadership, Administration and School Policy is from GW, as well, and her experience teaching includes several states, PreK-12, and internationally. Alexis lives in Albuquerque with her husband and daughter and in her spare time hikes, reads, aspires to write much more and travels.
alexis@ces.org
Office: 505.344.5470 x:139