In support of elevating the teaching profession
Local, state, and national leaders trust PEBC to inform the development of sound education policy that profoundly impacts success for students and teachers alike. PEBC has developed decades of direct experience in schools, deep knowledge of theory and practice, and a network for thousands of exceptional educators and passionate business and community leaders. Policymakers and advocates count on PEBC to advise the development and implementation of policy so that good ideas translate to great outcomes – in classrooms, schools, and systems as well as for our nation’s workforce and economy.
As such, below are examples of issues/legislation that PEBC has identified as areas for engagement during the upcoming legislative session.
PEBC Areas for Engagement
Educator Pipeline
PEBC supports efforts to address Colorado’s teacher shortage, particularly for our rural and small-rural school districts. We advocate for strategies at the state level to positively impact both the recruitment of new educators, as well as retaining a high-quality educator workforce.
PEBC supports continued and PEBC supports continued and expanded state funding for programs such as the Quality Teacher Recruitment grant program (QTR), the Educator Recruitment and Retention program (ERR) and investing in statewide efforts to recruit more individuals to become teachers such as TEACH Colorado. At the federal level, PEBC advocates for the continued expansion of teacher residency programs and is a member of the National Center for Teacher Residencies.
Elevating Teacher Voice in Public Policy
PEBC believes that education policy is strengthened when teachers have a seat at the table. Below are some examples of policy initiatives that PEBC has led or participated in with the explicit goal of providing practicing educators with experiences to share their perspectives with policy makers:
- In 2023-2024, PEBC co-facilitated the Colorado Safer Schools Initiative (CSSI) in partnership with Confluence Policy + Strategy Group, engaging more than250 educators, administrators, policymakers, and safety professionals to address the complex factors influencing school safety. CSSI released an interim report in the spring of 2024, as well as a scan of policy and practice Bright Spots in June of 2024
- In 2020-2021, PEBC co-facilitated the Education System Resilience and Innovation Initiative (ESRII) with the Keystone Policy Center, convening over80 education leaders to develop new strategies to strengthen the educator workforce, advance instructional innovation, and address inequities within Colorado’s education system that were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations of ESRII led to the introduction of CO SB21-185 which secured unanimous bipartisan support and more than $13 million for educator programs when it was signed into law in June of 2021.
- In 2019, PEBC partnered with community organizations on The Teacher Informed Solutions in Performance Evaluation (TISPE) Project to elevate teacher voice in evaluation policy discussions. Participants received micro-grants to pilot new approaches in their districts, and produced a white paper with policy recommendations presented to Colorado legislators ahead of the 2020 session.
In addition to these efforts, PEBC is frequently asked to participate and contribute to efforts across the ECE-12 policy spectrum, in areas ranging from Postsecondary Workforce Readiness (PWR), Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Education, and others.
School Funding
PEBC believes that adequate and equitable funding of public education for all learners in Colorado is of utmost importance. A strong business environment for Colorado’s economy needs a great education system so that future generations of Coloradans have the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the 21st century workforce.
Federal Legislation
PEBC supported the development of the Teacher, Principal, and Leader Residency Access Act, a bipartisan bill to expand access to teacher residency programs that was modeled after the PEBC Teacher Residency.
PEBC Catalysts
At the 2016 Superintendent Forum, PEBC generated 400 strategies related to supporting talent development for the education profession from both the education and business representatives in attendance. These audience responses clearly demonstrated a collective desire to seek and rally champions for educators across all sectors. PEBC established the Catalysts, a select group of business leaders who are ardent advocates for the elevation of the teaching profession and equitable outcomes for all students.
PEBC’s Catalysts understand that our students and their teachers are the underpinning of the state’s future workforce and of our communities’ economic health and vibrancy. They also understand the urgency and consequences of the teacher shortages their communities face. In order for our schools to have the teachers our students deserve, leaders will leverage the expertise of all groups to sharpen their advocacy skills as catalysts for education across Colorado.
PEBC Catalysts
- Tom Brinegar, Consultant, CFO Selections.
- Brooke Fleming, Chief Revenue Officer, Westerra Credit Union
- Patty Fontneau, Chief Executive Officer, Reach Out and Read Colorado
- Dan Galemba, Vice President, Revenue Strategy and Operations, DaVita
- Michael Krantz, Counsel, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP
- Craig May, Partner, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP
- Loryn Okken, Senior Director of Provider Strategy and Operations, DaVita
- Alissa (Skinner) Gallardo, Executive Vice President, Alpine Bank
- Mark Tapy, Director of Talent Management, Pinnacol Assurance
- Tammy Westerberg, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
- Kevin Vick, President, Colorado Education Association
- Karla Esser, Colorado State Board of Education
- Bree Jones, Superintendent, La Veta School District
- Brett Johnson, Chief Financial Officer, Aurora Public Schools
A supermajority of Colorado voters - 72 percent - agree that business should play a greater role in efforts to improve the state’s education system.
Contact us to learn how you can actively engage with PEBC and impact the future success of young people, your business, and the community in which you live and work.