Ignacio School District elementary instructional coach Kerry Jo Lauth has been selected to serve on the Colorado Commissioner’s Teacher Cabinet, where she will offer a rural perspective on state education policies.
“I'm very grateful that Carrie was selected,” said Chris deKay, superintendent for Ignacio School District. “I think she is going to provide some valuable input to the commissioner about how things are in the southwest corner of the state.”
The Colorado Commissioner’s Teacher Cabinet is made up of 23 K-12 teachers from across the state who meet in Denver three times a year to provide feedback on educational policies and brainstorm solutions to challenges facing Colorado school districts. Teachers serve two-year terms.
Lauth, who has been with Ignacio School District for 12 years, said the first meeting was held in February in Denver.
She said the Cabinet was briefed on focus areas for 2025, but because there are few policy updates for the coming year, most of the time was dedicated to teachers sharing their varied perspectives.
“It was great. It was definitely interesting. I didn’t really know what to expect,” Lauth said. “There were some really good voices or representation from other rural districts across the state.”
A common concern expressed by rural representatives was the need to improve recruiting and retention of staff, she said.
In a news release last week from Ignacio School District, Lauth said her goal is to lend a voice to the unique cultural and rural aspects of education in Colorado and ensure the region is not left behind.
In an interview with The Durango Herald, she explained that Ignacio, surrounded on three sides by the Southern Ute reservation, has different cultural dynamics than urban districts – and therefore different needs.
deKay said the commissioner of education intentionally chose Cabinet members who would reflect the diverse needs of school districts across Colorado.
“We always would encourage the educators from this area to be a part of those state committees, because it's very important that our voices are heard,” he said.
Nicole Gregersen, a kindergarten teacher in the Mancos School District, is also serving on the Cabinet.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
