In a new survey, nearly 40 percent of Colorado’s educators who are members of the state’s largest teachers’ union are considering leaving the profession after this school year. Unmanageable workloads, unsafe working conditions and low pay are the top concerns for these teachers, according to the Colorado Education Association survey. Union officials said underfunding and a lack of resources are at the root of why teachers are leaving. “When educators don’t feel supported, they leave,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association. “When educators leave, students suffer. It’s as simple as that.”
