During National Education Week, schools in Colorado opened their doors to policymakers as part of the Educator for a Day initiative. This program allowed elected officials to spend time inside school buildings and observe daily operations firsthand, rather than relying on reports or hearings.
The initiative aimed to give lawmakers insight into the various roles that keep schools running. Office staff greet students and families, educators balance instruction with limited resources, paraeducators supervise recess and help with social development, food service workers provide essential meals, and custodial staff maintain clean and safe environments.
According to the Colorado Education Association (CEA), decisions about staffing, funding, and working conditions are often made without input from those who work in schools every day. The association emphasized that involving educators at all levels of decision-making—from building-level choices to state policy—leads to more effective outcomes. As stated by CEA: “Educators must be involved in all decisions that affect them, from building level choices to district priorities to policies made at the state Capitol. When educators are excluded, policies miss the mark.”
The Educator for a Day event was designed to bridge this gap by making visible the expertise and challenges faced by school staff. The CEA noted: “It brings visibility to the work, challenges, and expertise of educators and school staff, and reinforces a simple truth: the best education policy is built with educators, not for them.”
Community members interested in supporting these efforts can text LOBBY to 45955 for updates on how they can advocate for education policy changes during the legislative session.
