Some Wasson Teachers Fear For Jobs
By Lindsay Watts
COLORADO SPRINGS-Long-time teachers at Wasson High School say they’re devastated to learn they may not have a job next year. More than thirty teachers have to re-apply and interviewfor their positions, some who’ve been at Wasson for more than 20 years.
It comes as D-11 plans tore-invent Wasson in effort to combat low enrollment.The idea is to createspecialized programs that help students get on their career paths early on. The programs or “academies” include the arts, science and math, and law and leadership.
Teachers atWasson who teach the arts, sciences and math have until Thursday to re-apply for their jobs online.
“Right now the staff has been thrown into turmoil,” says Tim Cross, with the Colorado Springs Education Association.
We talked totwo Wasson teachers who must re-apply, and they say the process has been devastating. One says she won’t try to keep her job, even though she’s taught at Wasson for more than 15 years.
“I don’t want to work here,” says the teacher, who didn’t want to be named because of the sensitive nature of the situation. “I love it here, I love my students. But why would I want to re-apply when I’m being de-valued like this? Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine this could have happened.”
Students we talked to say word has spread about what’s happening, and many are upset about possibly losing their favorite teachers.
D-11 Asst. Superintendent Dr. Mary Thurman says the re-application process is so teachers understand the new responsibilities coming next year.
“We’re not trying to get rid of anybody,” says Dr. Thurman. “We’re expecting most teachers will still be here next year.”
The school board still hasn’t approved the plan to change Wasson. Members will vote at the end of the month.
“The process is too compacted,” says Tim Cross, with CSEA. “Big changes like this in a big staff environment, you have to get everybody on board.”
However, Cross says he has confidence in the principal at Wasson and what he’s trying to do to reform the school.
“I think the staff agrees, they’ve got confidence in what he’s trying to do,” says Cross.”How you do it through is really important.”
