Being an educator is not an easy job. With college costs rising, and the cost of living going up on everything from housing to healthcare, we are seeing fewer and fewer talented young people becoming teachers. Many are eschewing the education profession for higher-paying jobs elsewhere, or fighting for positions that will help them pay back their substantial student loan debt.
Where this situation hurts Colorado the most though is in our classrooms in rural and underserved areas of our state. Since before my time in the Colorado Senate, I’ve been an outspoken advocate for making sure we’re creating educational environments for our children that give them a fair shot at going to college and learning skills that will assist them in earning the jobs of the future.
That is why I am proud to introduce my bill titled, Incentives to Build Number of Rural Teachers, or SB 16-104 in the Senate.
My bill would establish an incentives program for recent college graduates who go to work for schools in rural Colorado. By financially incentivizing recent Colorado graduates to stay in Colorado with modest grants to reward their service, we not only reinvigorate the economy in distressed towns across the state, but also give young people a fair shot at being able to pay off their loans, afford housing, and save for the future. While some states have similar programs, this would provide a very strong incentive for new graduates to come teach in rural Colorado.
Currently, Americans hold over $1 trillion in student loan debt. While this legislation isn’t going to singlehandedly solve the student loan debt issue, it will help recent graduates put a dent in their student loans while they also earn a salary. This will go a long way towards putting money back in the pockets of recent graduates, and also into the local shops, restaurants and businesses that make up Main Street while giving kids continuity and familiarity with their educators.
My bill wouldn’t just be a carrot to entice more to teach in rural Colorado – rather, it is an investment in our children’s education. I sincerely believe it is our moral commitment to provide a quality education to every student in this state. And, by attracting the best and brightest teaching talents to rural Colorado, we can ensure every child has a fair shot to succeed, no matter where they live.
Although Colorado did a great job weathering the worst of the Great Recession, rural communities are still recovering. Combine this factor with the perceived “isolation” of living in rural Colorado and lower salaries, and these schools struggle to recruit and retain quality teachers for any subject – particularly STEM subjects like math or science. With fewer teachers, class sizes grow, and teachers become overwhelmed, causing our kids to suffer.
As a former educator myself, I know when that happens, the kids are the ones who miss out on a great educational experience during their formative years. If the students don’t get the attention they need, and if they get cheated out of a quality education, they aren’t set up for success later on in their life. This is not fair.
Let’s make sure every Colorado child is set up for success in the classroom and also give recent graduates the opportunity to keep their talents in our state. By giving Colorado-grown talent the opportunity to serve our children and better afford the modern costs of living, we can ensure a bright future for our economy and for our kids.
Nancy Todd is the State Senator from Senate District 28.