Nov 1, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2021
Educators Pleased with Governor’s New Budget
Yet still concerned about education budget fiscal cliff in 2025
The following statement may be attributed to Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association:
“There’s a lot to love for public education in the state budget released by Governor Polis today. Educators working hard every day to make every classroom a place with exceptional teaching and learning are pleased with the short-term priorities.
“Educators have been overwhelmed with the difficulties of teaching during COVID but the fact is we have struggled with chronic underfunding of public schools for more than a decade, resulting in impossibly large class sizes, outdated textbooks and paychecks that often don’t pay the bills. We are grateful that the Governor is allocating funds to help buy down the budget stabilization factor to alleviate some strain and provide universal preschool, giving our public schools a much-needed boost.
“While these are great first steps in prioritizing public education, we foresee some dark years ahead. In just three years, we will face an education budget fiscal cliff when federal relief funds run out, TABOR refunds go out and various tax reduction measures we expect to see from corporate special interests and the ultra-wealthy pass.
“So while we are sincerely thanking the Governor today, we want to stress to all Coloradans how important it is to get serious about providing long-term, sustainable funding for the public schools we all value.”
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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Oct 22, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2021
Glenwood Springs Science Teacher Named 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year
Autumn Rivera chosen among seven finalists
DENVER – Autumn Rivera, a sixth-grade science teacher at Glenwood Springs Middle School in the Roaring Fork School District was named 2022 Colorado Teacher of the year today. The surprise announcement came at a limited capacity ceremony in Glenwood Springs.
“I am honored to announce that Autumn Rivera is our state’s next Teacher of the Year,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes. “In a time where it is more important than ever for students to feel supported in and out of the classroom, Ms. Rivera goes above and beyond to build trusting relationships with her students and their families. We have heard firsthand from her school community how inspired they are by Ms. Rivera’s passion for science, her dedication to the teaching profession and her commitment to equity. I am ecstatic to work with her during her journey as our Colorado Teacher of the Year!”
The Colorado Education Association (CEA) is a longtime sponsor of the Colorado Teacher of the Year Award, and will provide Rivera with a stipend to travel in her new role and to engage in networking opportunities with past Colorado Teachers of the Year. Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association, attended Friday’s ceremony to congratulate Rivera, who is a member of the Roaring Fork Community Education Association.
“Autumn Rivera’s selection as the 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year is a reflection of who she is and what she means to her students and her community,” said Baca-Oehlert. “She is a passionate educator who helps her students realize their self-worth and potential. Autumn wants to ensure that her students, no matter where they come from, realize that change begins with them.”
Rivera was selected over six other finalists. A sixth grade science teacher and adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College, she is a 2004 graduate of Colorado College with a bachelor’s in biology. She also earned two master’s degrees from Colorado College in Teaching Secondary Science and the one from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in Educational Leadership. She is a member of the Colorado Science Conference Planning Committee and the Steering Committee with the Colorado Science Education Network and is the Region 3 Elementary Board representative for the Colorado Association of Science Teachers. She also volunteers with the American Association of Chemistry Teachers.
Rivera will compete for the National Teacher of the Year Award and will be honored with other state Teachers of the Year at a White House ceremony next year. CEA would like to congratulate the other six finalists for the 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year award for their hard work and commitment: Carrianna DePace (Mountain Vista Community School, Harrison School District 2), Julia Ferre (SkyView Academy, Douglas County School District), Emmylou Harmon (West Grand High School, West Grand School District, West Grand Education Association), Ashley Lowe (Falcon Middle School, School District 49), Cristina Vanzo (Craig Middle School, Moffat County School District RE1, Moffat County Education Association), and Paula Wilderman (Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County, Colorado Charter School Institute).
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Oct 21, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2021
New America School Educators Seeking Recognition from Board
Educators seek unionization; seat at table
DENVER – A majority of educators with the New America School (NAS) presented a petition to the New America Board last night seeking recognition of their union. The educators are asking to go to the bargaining table to discuss solutions to declining student achievement, high educator turnover and a negative school culture where educator voice is essentially muted.
“Our students deserve a school where they know that their teachers will return consistently but unfortunately, the current environment at NAS has led to massive staff changes every single year,” said Collette Simkins, New America School Art and Drama teacher. “The teaching staff in the NAS system believe that it is time for a change. We need a seat at the table. Teachers leave because decisions are made about our jobs without any meaningful input from us. We want to be included in decisions about our schools, our students, and our jobs.”
“At the end of the day, we all just want what’s best for our students,” said Elaina King, social studies teacher and instructional coach. “We want recognition so that we can best serve our diverse student population. All kids no matter their backgrounds need teachers who are there for them through thick and thin.”
“We proudly stand with the New America School educators,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association. “These brave educators are standing up and doing what’s right for their students and their school and this is nothing short of heroic. The 39,000 members of the CEA stand in solidarity with the educators of NAS and pledge to support in any way we can to help them achieve recognition.”
Educators are concerned that their expertise and input is often ignored by administration, which has led to a decline in student achievement. Because of the exodus of educators from all three campuses, remaining educators are forced to take on more. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the underlying issues at the New America School.
The New America School is composed of three campuses: Lakewood, Aurora, and Thornton. Each campus was authorized by Jefferson County Public Schools, the Colorado Charter School Institute, and Adams 12 School District, respectively. There are 30 educators across all three campuses.
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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Oct 20, 2021 | Blog
Born and raised where the chile is the best, Katie Brown grew up in Pueblo where it made her the person she is. When she was in the first grade, she told her Mom that she wanted to be a teacher so that she could grade papers. While teaching Italian to second graders at Sunset Park Elementary (the school she would eventually return to as a staff member), she again told her Mom that she wanted to teach. Her Mom was a teacher, her Grandmother taught school in rural Nebraska before her. It felt like the family tradition and a natural fit. When she said, “Please don’t,” Katie listened.
After graduating college, she worked a variety of jobs including labor and community organizer, Katie jumped at the chance to work at Freed Middle School in Pueblo, right next door to where she grew up. She found the work profoundly meaningful but it paid just $19,000 a year. She knew she had to speak up.
And this is how she became involved with the union. She knew the only way to improve her and her co-workers’ situations would be to come together and organize to fight for a contract. “In the same spirit of the working people of Pueblo who came before us, after less than a year my coworkers and I did just that,” said Brown.
Katie’s precious moments outside of board and school work are with her favorite guys – husband Zach, a brilliant listener and strike chant shouter, their oldest son Elliot, an excellent dancer and first-class reader, their younger son, Samuel who always has them laughing. They also have two furry guys, Chewy and Mando, the best border collies around. Together they like to hike around the Pueblo Reservoir, ride their bikes along the Arkansas River, paddle board at Lake Beckwith, and admire the beauty and community of their hometown, Pueblo.
Katie Brown is an elementary school counselor, the president-elect of the Colorado School Counselors Association, and proud member of the Pueblo County Education Association.
Oct 20, 2021 | Blog
In her first novel, “EduCate”, middle school teacher, Englewood Educators member and CEA Ambassador Fellowship alumni Julie White blurs the lines between fact and fiction. “EduCate” follows Cate Reed, who is battling apathetic students, middle school antics and all the extra duties a teacher must manage at Lilacwood Middle School.
Cate tries her best but is finding it harder and harder to find her footing as a teacher. She finds solace with her partner Brad and cat, Magpie. Her life turns upside down when the coronavirus changes everything in 2020. Through a fellowship in her educators’ union, Cate begins to develop her voice. She tries to adapt to online teaching as debates rage around schools opening safely, masks and eventually, vaccinations. George Floyd’s murder brings social justice and racial equity to the forefront as America navigates the pandemic of systemic racism. A controversial shirt worn to school creates a firestorm. During a school year like no other, Cate has to decide where she stands.
Author Julie White was born in Columbia, Missouri and grew up in Sweet Springs, Missouri. After graduating high school, she Seattle Pacific University for her undergraduate degree, studying journalism and communication. She married her husband Nathan in 2005. While in Seattle, she taught summer camps, environmental education and at the Pacific Science Center, where discovered she loved working with kids. She and Nathan moved to Colorado in 2008 and went back to school for her Masters in Education at Regis University, completing it in December of 2009. She has been teaching high school and middle school language arts ever since, currently at Englewood Middle School, just south of Denver.
Julie joined her local association, Englewood Educators, immediately after getting hired. She was especially energized by the CEA Day of Action in April 2018. Englewood Educators organized a Day of Action first when PERA was threatened and it felt great to have over 500 educators and supporters join in to let lawmakers know that we need to protect PERA and to fund public education. This was the moment she became an activist. That summer, she participated in Ed Summer as an intern with CEA and learned how to connect with members and further spread activism (see the GLUE story on page 4). She continued her leadership journey as a CEA Ambassador Fellow during this past school year.
Since she was teaching from home for the 20-21 school year with eLearning, she decided an appropriate project could be documenting this crazy time in a novel. As the world shut down, she turned inward to create characters and poured her free time into writing. Julie loves how storytelling can connect us. She has talked to so many union members in one-on-ones over the years that helped her craft her plot. The Fellowship gave her an accountability group, support and encouragement to complete this novel. She also joined a Lighthouse Writing Group and found the entire project to be very cathartic and fulfilling. Julie wrote “EduCate” on weekends and when she isn’t writing, she is walking in her neighborhood in Englewood or exploring a mountain trail. She loves being an aunt, playing board games, snorkeling, and discussing books.
“EduCate” is available now on Amazon in ebook, print paperback or large print formats. One reviewer wrote, “Take a trip down the 2020-2021 lane with a character that is capable, passionate, and a fierce defender of her friends and community.”
“I am honored to announce that Autumn Rivera is our state’s next Teacher of the Year,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes. “In a time where it is more important than ever for students to feel supported in and out of the classroom, Ms. Rivera goes above and beyond to build trusting relationships with her students and their families. We have heard firsthand from her school community how inspired they are by Ms. Rivera’s passion for science, her dedication to the teaching profession and her commitment to equity. I am ecstatic to work with her during her journey as our Colorado Teacher of the Year!”