Thousands of students in our state are falling behind more and more every day because they don’t have access to the internet connectivity and devices needed to continue their education online. Stand for Children Stand is working with the national Homework Gap Coalition and EducationSuperhighway to encourage key U.S. Senators to allocate dedicated funding for home internet access and devices in the next COVID-19 relief package to ensure all K-12 students and their teachers can participate in remote learning while school buildings remain closed.  

We are asking educators (Superintendents, principals, teachers, librarians, school board members) across the state to sign on to a letter calling on Colorado Senator Gardner and Senate leaders, including those on the commerce committee, to support the Emergency Educational Connections Act, which would dedicate $4 billion in emergency funding to address the nation’s student connectivity crisis. If you are an educator we are asking you to join too, by adding your signature to the letter here.  You can see who has signed on to the letter so far below. 

Add Your Name

Education leaders have both the authority and influence to speak to the severity of the digital divide, how it’s specifically affecting students and families in your district, and the long-lasting harm that will be done if students aren’t able to get connected immediately to continue their studies. Hundreds of Stand families and students have already written lawmakers to share their stories and struggles. Now, we need school leaders to take part and confirm just how widespread and enduring this problem is, especially given the unpredictability of what may need to occur this summer or next school year to maintain learning while ensuring the safety of students and teachers.  

I hope you’ll join us and add your signature to the letter, then encourage fellow school leaders and educators within your network to sign on as well. The more support, the better! 

See Who Has Signed the Letter So Far:

Superintendents:

Leslie Arnold, Johnstown-Milliken Weld RE-5J

Wendy Birhanzel, Harrison School District 2         

Glen Bradshaw, Cheyenne County School District Re-5

Kerry Buhler, Summit RE-1

Christopher Gdowski, Adams 12 Five Star Schools             

Jason Glass, JeffCo Public Schools

Elsie Goines, Las Animas RE-1

Rebecca Hall, Hinsdale County School District

Tom Heald, Aspen School District

Trent Kerr, Wiggins School District

Alfie Lotrich, Fowler R4J

John McCleary, Limon School District RE-4J

Valorie  McCleary, Arriba-Flagler CSD #20

Daniel  McMinimee, New America School - Colorado

Michael Moore, Huerfano RE-1

Bridgette Muse, Eaton RE2

Linda Reed, Archuleta School District 50 Jt.

Frank Reeves, East Grand

Elisabeth Richard, School District RE-4A

Frank Reeves, East Grand

Stephen Schiell, Montrose County School District

Diana Sirko, Mesa County Valley School Dist. 51

Dr. Michael Thomas, Colorado Springs School District 11

Kelli Thompson, Elbert School District #200

George Welsh, Cañon City School

School Board Members

Nichol Bray, Norwood

Erika Brown, Durango 9R

Angela  Cobián, Denver Public Schools

Staphanie, Cordova-Catalano, District 70

Diana Elliott, Strasburg 31-J

Karen Fisher, Cherry Creek School District

Tina Freel, Moffat consolidated

Anne Guettler, Garfield RE2

Mary Herr, Bayfield 10 JT-R

Shad Johnson, RE-1 Valley School District

Dee Leyba, East Otero School District

Susan Meek, Douglas County School District

Barbara O'Brien, Denver Public Schools

Jeannie Peters, Salida R32J

Wendy Pottorff , Limon District RE 4-J

Gloria Quintero, Summit

Robin Reeser, Cañon City Schools

Vicki Reinhard, Aurora Public Schools

Christine Redman, North Park

Karin Reynolds, Academy District 20

Kirk Wilson, Garfield RE2

Principals & Administrators

Denise Albrecht, Canon City Schools

Marne Autobee, Cañon City Schools

Jon Berninzoni, Jefferson County PS R-1

Collin Bonner, Colorado Department of Education

C.J. Cain, Jeffco Public Schools

Meredith Changeux, Denver Public Schools

Daniel Coppa, Cañon City Schools Fremont RE-1

Andrea Davis, Cañon City Schools Fremont RE-1

Richard Garrison, Primero School District RE-2

Joan Jahelka, Colorado Springs School District 11

Laura Harringa, DPS

Theodore Johnson, Pueblo 60

Shaun Kohl, Cañon City Schools District Fremont RE-1

Elliott Lepert, Denver Public Schools

Danielle Lucas-Adam, Denver Public Schools

Neisa Lynch, Denver Public Schools

Claudette Murtha, Colorado Springs District 11

Nicole Ottmer, Colorado Springs D11

John Pavlicek, Canon City RE-2

Timothy Renn, Canon City RE-1

David Sawtelle, Colorado Springs District 11

Danielle Suhr, Eaton School District

William Summers, Canon City RE-1

Pamela Walker, Canon City Schools

Geoffrey Walmer, Wawasee

Kim Watchorn, Thompson School District

Mary Whitman, Eaton School District Re 2

Gina Yacovetta, Jeffco

Carrie Yantzer, Boulder Valley School District

Chloe Zagar, Jeffco

Teachers:

Amy Arguello, RE-1

Kathryn Arnold, Canon City Schools

Vanette Benesch, Canon City Schools

Donna Biemiller, Canon City Schools

Benjamin Brunson, Canon City Schools

Lisa Bryan, Canon City Schools RE-1

Susan Buckles, Canon City School District RE-1

Bailey Carrero, DPS

Melissa Capozza, Denver Public Schools

Katieann Carochi, Canon City School District RE-1

Nicole Clark, Canon City Schools

Laura Copper, Canon City Fremont Re-1

Carolyn Crockett, Denver Public Schools

Shannon Daly, Fremont RE-1 Canon City

Jamie Davis, Canon City Schools

Stephanie Day, Canon City Middle School

Kristyn Econome, Fremont RE-1

Richard Elkind, Denver Public Schools

Marcy Epperson, Canon City Schools Fremont RE-1

Janelle Falk, Canon City School District RE-1

Tonya  Fisher, Canon City Schools RE-1

Julie Fletcher, Douglas County School District RE1

Susanna Florom, Canon City Schools

Sarah Frank, District 27J

Suzanna Gould, Jefferson County

Katie Grace, Denver Public Schools

Cody Green, RE-1

Brianna Heifner, Canon City Schools RE-1

Bonnie Hendricks, Pueblo School for Arts and Sciences

Caity Hoffert, Denver Public Schools

Jamita Horton, DPS

Heidi Hubinger, Fremont Re-1

Nicole Janitell, Canon City Schools Fremont RE-1

Deanna Johnson, Canon City Schools

Monica Kelly, Canon City RE-1

Denyse Kunz, Canon City Fremont RE-1

Mark Lyons, Canon City Schools

Zachary Malone, CCSD

Haley Mandell, Denver Public Schools

Teresa Manfredo, Canon City Schools - Fremont RE-1

Kim McConnon, Cañon City Schools RE-1

Scott Miller, Fremont RE1

Anita Mitchum, Denver Public Schools

Chalea Montoya, Canon City RE-1

Cheryl Munoz, Academy D20

Michal Nolan, Fremont RE-1

Sharon Parnell, RE-1 Canon City

Rebecca Reed, Canon City Schools

Ember Ress, Denver Public Schools

Jared Ress, Jefferson County

Mark Sass, Adams 12

Scott Smith, Canon City Schools

Karin Steadman, Fremont RE-1

Jessica Stevens, Canon City Schools

Samantha Szabo, DPS

Kaila Twomey, DPS

Nicola Vera, Canon City School District

Andrew Vetter, Canon City Schools

Peyton Walker, DPS

Kimberly Weber, Canon City RE-1

Daniel  Wiley, Fremont County RE-1 - Canon City School District

Amy Williamson, Fremont RE-1

Michael Windham, Adams 12 Five Star Schools

Scott Witkowsky, Canon City Fremont RE-1

Librarians:

Janette Burton, Colorado Springs District 11

Jo Conlon, Thompson R2J School District

Megan McQuinn, Denver

Karen  Patrick, Canon City School District, RE-1

Karen  Rogers, Canon City Schools Fremont RE-1

Other Education Leaders:

Julie Abeyta, Canon City RE-1

Elizabeth Azaveda, DPS

Hannah Belich, Jefferson County

Savanna Berezniak, Jefferson

Quinn Boden, Denver Public Schools/Westminster Public Schools

Laurie Boever-Cook, Douglas County

Leslie Bogar, Colorado Association of School Boards

Nora Brown, CSSD11

Shirlee  Brule, Cañon City Schools

Patrick Callahan, Cañon City Schools RE-1

Sharon  Carlton, Cañon City Schools

Alexandra Chavez, Denver Public Schools

Cheyenne Clarkin, Westminster

Laura Davidson, Re-1

Jamie Davis, Canon City Schools

Dorothy Day, Canon City Schools

Amanda Dean-Moore, Re-1

Hunter  Dean-Moore, Fremont County RE-1

Kathryn Driscoll, DPS

Destiny Dunaway, Canon City School District

Dean Elson, Denver Public Schools

Tillie Elvrum, Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families

Heidi Forward-Kraft, Canon City RE-1

Kendall Fowler, DPS

William Fry, Canon City Schools

Tonya Garcia, North Park District one

Kim Godfrey, Canon City Schools (Fremont RE-1)

Ashlie Grissom, Canon City Schools RE-1

Jessica Hamiton, Fremont Re-1 Canon City Schools

Lisa Henderson, Denver Public Schools

Mary Kelly, DPS

Juliana LaBadie, Canon City School District RE-1

Michael Lynch, Westminster Public Schools

Shantell Lynch, RE-1

Katrina  Matos, Canon City Schools

Tara McCain, RE-2

Cheryl   McDaniel, Canon City RE-1

Bret Miles, Colorado Association of School Executives

Mike Miles, Third Future Schools

Elizabeth Miller, Canon City Schools

Jamie Murray, Canon City School District

Yesenia Nava, Denver

Stacey Nelson, Valley Re-1  - Sterling CO

Miriam Newton, Denver Public Schools

Natasha North, Colorado Springs School District Eleven

Mary E. Olson, Canon City Schools RE-1

Karla Palmer, Fremont County RE 1

Robin Roberts, Fremont RE-1

James Sanchez, Center consolidated school District

Dan Schaller, Colorado League of Charter Schools

Amanda Stevens, Jeffco

Erika Stewart, Denver Public Schools

Robert Stogner, Fremont RE-2

Amie Thomas, Canon City RE-1

Michael Todd, Denver Public Schools

Meredith Trevino, Denver Public Schools

Siena Wamsganz, Canon City School District

Zach Ward, Denver Public Schools/ Westminster Public Schools

Lisa Webster, Summit School District

Cheri Wrench, Colorado Association of School Boards