Nearly 100 educators from rural areas across Colorado gathered at the State Capitol for Rural Lobby Day, braving cold weather to speak with legislators about the challenges facing their schools. The group highlighted ongoing issues such as chronic underfunding, significant teacher shortages, and rising living costs that are making it difficult to retain educators and provide stable learning environments.
Rebecca Costanzo, a high school social studies teacher and member of the Brush Education Association, explained how persistent vacancies in teaching positions are affecting students’ literacy and essential skills. “We have been down an English teacher in our high school for about three years. When I graduated from college in 2011, there were hundreds of English teachers, and now we can’t even get one to come out to Northeast Colorado,” Rebecca shared. “So it’s really impacting our students and their instruction in reading and writing and other important skills that they need in the 21st century.”
Kasey Anderson, a high school science teacher with the Sterling Education Association, commented on how funding shortfalls limit access to materials and real-world learning opportunities. “Funding impacts our ability to provide materials and equipment that is relevant to the changing times, and be able to provide students with real world opportunities that will help develop their skill sets to make them more marketable when they leave our schools,” she stated.
Cheryl Prins, a Spanish teacher from Eagle County Education Association, described how housing shortages led to an unfilled teaching position for a Native Spanish speaker at her school. This resulted in a program serving mostly Latino students being shut down. “There were several different people who committed to the position, but then backed out over the summer because they couldn’t find housing, so the position went unfilled. We couldn’t run our program because we didn’t have a teacher,” she said.
Nicole Glassel, a first grade teacher from Fort Morgan Education Association, expressed concern about student learning when schools must rely on teachers with temporary visas or substitutes due to staffing gaps. “We have many teachers that are here on J1 visas, are long term subs or doing alternative licensure programs just so that we can have enough teachers in our buildings,” she explained. “Our middle school next year has 15 openings because the visas are up and they have to leave.”
Laura Daly of Eagle County Education Association attended Rural Lobby Day motivated by her commitment to her students. She emphasized: “I came because there are some changes that need to be made, and unless legislators hear from us and from the people that are in the schools, they don’t know what’s going on.” Daly also added: “I came to lobby day because my students are worth fighting for. I came so that I could show them that their voice matters and that I didn’t just tell them that they can do it, but I showed it by my own actions.”
Educators urged lawmakers not to overlook rural schools when considering education policy changes or funding decisions. They called for reforms aimed at improving Colorado’s school funding system and increasing investment in both students and staff.
Rural Lobby Day was intended as a demonstration of continued advocacy by educators determined to secure better conditions for rural schools despite challenging circumstances.
