Re:“Another shot at Race to the Top,” May 29 editorial.
The Denver Post editorial implored the Colorado Education Association to “heartily support” a third application for federal Race to the Top education funding. No organization in Colorado was more vocal in the legislature this year to save funding for public schools than the CEA, so we’re eager to see how we can collaborate with the Colorado Department of Education and other partners in Round 3 programs.
The details are still too murky for a responsible decision, but rest assured, the need for more money in our classrooms is felt more acutely by students and their teachers than by anyone else. The CEA will carefully consider all options for those Race to the Top dollars.
We continue to be miffed by how the CEA is portrayed by The Post in the Senate Bill 191 storyline. SB 191 at its very heart and soul is about teacher effectiveness evaluations, and the CEA was on public record fully supporting a statewide evaluation system for educators long before this law was ever written. We’ve always believed teachers who receive fair evaluations under a set of defined standards will be better prepared to meet the needs of children, parents and the community. After seeing widespread teacher-bashing at a national level, our members are chomping at the bit to prove they are effective professionals who go above and beyond for Colorado kids.
Three of our members are part of the State Council for Educator Effectiveness, which created the recommendations for a comprehensive evaluation system. CEA is committed to being a state leader on educator effectiveness and we will work with all groups supporting public education to ensure the new evaluations make a fair and smooth transition into our classrooms. The sooner all of us let go of our grudges and mischaracterizations regarding SB 191, the sooner we give all Colorado educators the tools to demonstrate their passion for excellence in a system that will be the envy of teachers across the nation.
Beverly Ingle is president of the Colorado Education Association.
