Colorado teachers are a highly skilled and versatile group of professionals who have earned their degrees and continue to train on the job every day. They possess specialized knowledge and interpersonal skills that are valued by businesses. Therefore, Colorado educators should be compensated fairly.
As someone who arrived in Colorado in the late nineties from San Francisco Unified School District, with seven years of transferable tenure, I have served Boulder Valley School District as a teacher, program coordinator and case manager. In 2001, after over ten years of public service, I resigned, feeling that classroom teaching was a luxury reserved for those who do not rely on their pay rate to survive.
It is no secret that Colorado educators are underpaid. The recent activity in Colorado's legislative house has reminded us that our teachers are among the lowest-paid in the United States. There are three current efforts in response to a statewide school teacher and staff shortage described by the Colorado Education Association's 2023 report as "dangerously and unsustainably staffed."
House Bill 23-1064, entitled the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, has passed and was signed into law. It appears to be a positive effort to attract professionals to Colorado classrooms. However, the Compact indicates that the door swings both ways. This could lead to more teachers leaving for one of the other nine higher-paying states.
House Bill 23-1001, entitled Expanding Assistance for Educator Programs, has also passed into law this session and intends to provide stipends for university education programs and debt relief for teachers post-graduation. This is an effective method to support emerging educators passionate about the profession. These are likely young students with limited resources entering a profession with limited resources. However, more is needed to attract young, undeclared undergraduates to lead Colorado classrooms.
Senate Bill 23-087, entitled the Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Program, is currently under consideration. This bill provides teacher authorization to individuals who are "actively registered in an apprenticeship program" and "actively enrolled in an affiliated bachelor's degree program from an accredited institution." The authorization may be renewed for up to four years and would become invalid if the individual were to "withdraw or fail to make progress." This is another positive effort to staff classrooms. However, most teachers report feeling underprepared after their teacher training. Although seemingly positive, this program will encourage young and underprepared individuals to be teaching Colorado students.
An individual not much older than our high school students, undertrained, and even less experienced will teach our high school students. Now consider the increased pressures that our already overtaxed tenured teachers face as they are expected by both district programs and their vice-principals to supervise and mentor these apprentices.
Our teachers are skilled professionals who guide our youth to their best potential. They should feel honored by and a part of the community. Teachers should have the financial flexibility to patronize restaurants and attend events and performances. They should be "in the know" about politics, culture and trends. Instead, teachers live on lean budgets and commute long distances to work each day. They face an ever-increasing politicized work environment, often feeling disrespected and sometimes threatened. Our children deserve teachers who can be fully present rather than distracted by increased expectations, stressors or financial concerns.
As a state with progressive leadership, a growing population and innovative industries, Colorado has the potential to lead the way in valuing and supporting its educators. By recognizing the critical role that teachers play in shaping the future of our students and communities, we can take action to ensure that teaching is not a luxury but a respected and financially viable career. By investing in our home-grown talent and attracting qualified educators to fill vacancies, we can provide our students with the education and support they deserve. It's time to prioritize our teachers and create a brighter future for Colorado.
— Mike Manning is a longtime teacher and founder of Just Tutoring.
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