To rally teachers and staff for the upcoming school year, Carter spoke at a districtwide orientation session on Thursday, Aug. 14. In order to have all students at grade level academically, Carter said it was up to teachers.
“Teachers are our greatest asset, the only asset, that will make a difference,” he told educators Thursday morning.
Carter said no organization has ever experienced transformative change without long, hard labor. He challenged teachers to give a little more, whether it was five minutes per hour or two students per class.
“We’ve been pushing hard,” said Carter. “Let’s push harder. Let’s keep pushing.”
M-CHS math teacher Susan Wisenbaker, a 2014 Teacher of the Year honoree, also addressed the assembly. She said she looks forward to challenging her students in the classroom, saying that they wanted to learn and understand.
“Education is the business of investing in our students,” said the former DuPont engineer.
Manaugh Elementary first-grade teacher Katherine Carpenter, also a 2014 Teacher of the Year honoree, encouraged her peers on Thursday to apply “gentle and relentless pressure” on students, adding neither genius nor talent could surpass persistence.
“I will not give up,” said Katherine Carter. “I want my students to be successful.”
The district has hired 43 teachers this year. Carter described them as a “high-powered group of individuals.” He said all teachers, whether entering their first or 25th year in the classroom, were important team members.
School board president Tim Lanier also welcomed new teachers and staff on Thursday. He said the district was moving forward and making progress.
“Despite the negative publicity from the paper, we’re doing things that are right,” Lanier told educators.
Amie Baca, Vice-President of the Colorado Education Association, told teachers to collaborate as advocates for the profession, even when they feel disrespected.
“Let’s make education in Cortez the best it can be,” said Baca. “We can change the world.”
Over the past four years, state funding for public education has been slashed by $1 billion. Carter also encouraged teachers to continue lobby legislators for additional funding; citing financial support for schools was a “top priority” over educational reform.
Tanya Amrine, executive director of the Ute Mountain Ute Education Department, said the tribe wanted to support the district through various initiatives, adding that it was up to teachers serving on the front lines to inform the tribe when they needed assistance.
“We have a truancy program,” said Amrine. “Don’t wait until a student has missed 30 to 40 days. Let us know.”
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