CEA - Spring Journal - 2026

Denver, Colo.

100 Years of Delegate Assembly 2025 BARGAINING & ORGANIZING WINS DELEGATE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

2026 Delegate Assembly Special Edition Issue

Vol. 141, No. 3

Contents

Photo by Sammy Emerson Members vote during the 2025 Delegate Assembly.

PRESIDENT Kevin Vick

03

Letter from the President

04

100 Years of DA

06

2025 Bargaining Wins

08

Cut the Ropes School Board Resolutions

10

Black History Month Reflections

12

2026 Delegate Assembly Elections

20

2026 Retired Elections

22

Get Involved

VICE PRESIDENT Liz Waddick SECRETARY-TREASURER Amber Wilson NEA DIRECTORS Ang Anderson Dr. Timothy Brown EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kooper Caraway CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS Sydney Breakfield Communications Program Coordinator Sydney Slifka Director of Digital Communications Sarah Siegel Director of Strategic Research and Data Analysis

Follow CEA coloradoea.org @ColoradoEA Text “CEA” to 45955 to receive action alerts and updates

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100 Years of Educators Standing Together Dear Members, This year, we gather for our 100th Delegate Assembly. One hundred times, educators from across Colorado have come together to shape the direction of our union and our profession. One hundred times, members have come together to debate the issues that matter most. One hundred times, we have left the room united in the work ahead.

This milestone matters, now more than ever. Over the last 100 years, our profession has experienced profound change. Schools were desegregated following Brown v. Board of CEA President Kevin Vick Education. Students with disabilities gained the right to a public education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Educators organized across the country to secure collective bargaining rights and a voice in their profession. While generations of educators have made hard fought progress, we cannot afford to back down as public education and union rights face renewed attacks today.

We see those pressures playing out in real ways in our schools and communities, from political interference in our classrooms to ongoing efforts to weaken unions and divert resources away from public education. Yet even as our members are carrying more than ever to meet the needs of their students and communities, they continue to organize and build power together. From the bargaining table negotiating contracts that improve working conditions and strengthen our schools, to lobbying at the legislature to secure the funding our students deserve, educators across Colorado are standing up for their profession and their communities.

As we mark our 100th Delegate Assembly, we honor the generations of members who built our union and fought for the progress we benefit from today. And we recommit ourselves to the work ahead. From strong contracts in our districts to securing the funding our schools need, members across Colorado continue to stand up for their profession, their students, and their communities. Our strength has always come from educators showing up for one another and taking collective action to move our schools forward.

Because when we stand together in our union, we have the power to win the changes our students and our schools need.

In solidarity,

Kevin Vick Kevin Vick is a high school social studies teacher and president of the CEA.

CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 3

10 years 4 • CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026

30 years

20 years

1884–1909

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of

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40 years

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50 years

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DONATE TODAY AT COLORADOEA.ORG/NEAPAC CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 5

LEFT: JESPA members gather together after the No More Cuts Rally held at the State Capitol last year. ABOVE: Steamboat Springs members rally together at a school board meeting, waiting for the vote on a new staff compensation package for 2025–26.

Wins and Lessons from the 2025 Bargaining Season

By Sarah Siegel

Congratulations to the local leaders, bargaining teams, organizing committees, and rank and file members who fought hard for meaningful raises.

OUR FINANCIAL WINS This year’s average COLA (cost of living adjustment) was 2.4%. Though this COLA is lower than in previous years, we still beat the 2.3% inflation rate! For the past several years, locals with collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) won higher average raises than locals without CBAs. This year, that is still the case for Education Support Professionals (ESPs) locals; however, non-contract licensed locals showed slightly higher COLAs. More and more licensed locals are surpassing our $50k base pay benchmark, with several locals setting a new standard at $60k. Congratulations to Adams 14 and Aurora Education Association for reaching the $60k club this year!

As always, our biggest wins came from locals that combined organizing and collective action with bargaining.

Durango Education Support Professionals Association and Durango Education Association bargained jointly for the first time, creating solidarity and successfully moving 6 • CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026

the district from an entrenched position of a 0% COLA. They focused on member turnout for bargaining and chose to go to mediation rather than accept the district’s bluff that they would not move off of a 0% COLA. They won a 2% COLA, 2 additional paid days off, and maintenance of their one-third employee two-thirds district share for health insurance.

Steamboat Springs Education Association successfully bargained a salary schedule and $2,000 increase for Student Support Professionals (SSPs), won a $2/hr increase to the compensation of their classified staff, and an additional $1,500 to their base pay and steps and lanes.

Trinidad Education Association won bonuses at winter break and at the end of the year for those educators who attend all professional development days, along with increased employee-only insurance contributions—meaning the district will essentially cover the insurance increase.

Additional Paid Days Off: In several locals, including Jefferson County Education Association and Eagle Education Association, members won additional paid days off to offset lower than desired COLA wins. These locals found that when bargaining over COLA stalled, they were able to find a compromise by proposing additional paid days off (usually by decreasing the number of non-student contact days).

THE UNION DIFFERENCE Average COLA wins don’t show the full advantage of having collective bargaining rights. In addition to winning higher compensation increases in the past several years, licensed locals with collective bargaining rights also have substantially higher pay across the board.

Significantly, while starting pay is 18% higher for licensed educators in districts with a contract, top salary is 43% higher in districts with a contract. Therefore, the union difference is felt across the salary schedule and is particularly beneficial as educators gain experience and accumulate career earnings.

$52,333

Average Starting Teacher Pay of Locals

$7,963

the union difference

with CBAs

Average Starting Teacher Pay of Locals

without CBAs

$44,370

CONTRACT LANGUAGE WINS

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE YEARS

Huerfano Education Association won an article dedicated to special education workload. Their strong language includes caseload limits, paraprofessional support, plan time and collaboration time, a commitment to reducing the burden of special ed paperwork, and inclusion training for general education teachers. This language is a huge win for this local specifically and special education generally.

Without a new funding source school funding increases may slow, meaning that we may find financial bargaining particularly challenging in the coming years. As we gear up for a ballot initiative to increase funding to a survivable level, it will be crucial to continue fighting for compensation.

In addition to bargaining over School Finance Act funding, locals will need to push school districts to reprioritize funds toward classrooms and compensation. New Mill Levy Override caps increase some districts’ abilities to raise more local funds.

Gunnison County Education Association won very progressive leave language for extended sick leave.

Teachers only have to use 50% of their accumulated annual leave before accessing the Collective Leave Bank. They also widened access to bereavement leave to cover “the death of an immediate, chosen, or extended family member; domestic partner; or friend.”

Jeffco Education Support Professionals Association continues to win on their priority of healthy school meals and protections for food service workers. Their new contract language prevents unfair discipline and ensures consistent expectations around a la carte food offerings, especially important because forcing a la carte junk food sales has been a big area of contention. They also won food service safety training and protections against downgrades to jobs.

We learned from the 2008 financial crisis that school districts will often propose freezing steps as a way to ease budget concerns, but correcting these freezes is challenging and leaves educators feeling undervalued. We firmly believe that steps and lanes should be granted annually; if districts are feeling a budget crunch, they can implement furlough days or other mechanisms to decrease expenditures. We should always fight to preserve steps and lanes.

CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 7

Cut

the ropes

By Sydney Breakfield

Educators across Colorado are uniting through the Cut the Ropes campaign to secure stable, sustainable funding for public education. Members are organizing communities, engaging school boards, and building momentum toward long-term solutions that support students and educators statewide. From metro districts to rural and mountain communities, educators are adapting the campaign locally while advancing a shared message that Colorado schools need reliable funding to thrive. As the campaign launched, educators drafted resolutions for their local Boards of Education to help hold district leaders accountable in strengthening school funding. These resolutions call on districts to support a 2026 ballot measure to increase K–12 funding and educator pay, collaborate with community partners, and educate voters about the initiative’s benefits.

Rural districts are constantly feeling the constraints due to lack of funding. In Alamosa financial pressures remain significant, and schools are feeling the impact. “We are a district that has been in a freeze for the past year, so no one got their steps and lanes,” said Alamosa Education Association president and high school science teacher Consuelo Reyes, adding, “It seems like we just get thrown curveball after curveball.” Although the superintendent supported refining the proposal, the final vote was unexpectedly contentious, passing narrowly by a 3–2 margin.

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While developing their proposed resolution, Jefferson County Education Association educators aligned advocacy with sustained relationship-building. Organizers regularly met with board members to discuss the importance of voting on a referred measure related to school funding. CEA Year Round Organizer and third-grade teacher Whitney Newman explained, “We have a board liaison program. It’s just a group of us that meet with our board members once a month, and that was another way we could continue to ask them and tell them how important this resolution is.” The ongoing relationship-building paid off when the board voted unanimously to support the resolution.

Kevin Walek, a high school teacher and president of Gunnison County Education Association (GCEA), shared that district collaboration went a long way in the passing of the resolution presented by GCEA members. He shared, “Regular meetings with the superintendent and collaborative negotiations created an environment of trust that made the process relatively smooth.” While some language in the resolution was softened to reduce binding requirements, approval came without significant pushback.

During a school board meeting, Poudre Education Association members shared firsthand accounts of how funding limitations affect staffing, student support services, electives, and arts programming. Dual language kindergarten teacher Irma Sandoval highlighted the practical impact additional funding could bring. “If we no longer had those ropes hindering our funding, then our school would have greater flexibility for staff and stronger student-teacher ratios,” she said. The resolution ultimately passed unanimously.

Photo by Sammy Emerson Poudre Education Association member Wendy Bergman speaks during Senate Bill 26-135 press conference.

Members of Cañon City Education Association (CCEA) worked tirelessly to research answers and maintain communication to ensure board members felt informed and supported throughout the process, once the resolution was presented.

Annette Nimmo, an elementary school teacher, is hopeful that CCEA can get their school board to pass the resolution, “If this campaign is successful, we would hope that schools would not have to wait every year for budgets to be passed and see what gets cut,” she said. Members are still in discussion with their board.

Westminster Education Association leaders spent several months discussing the resolution internally before presenting it to the school board, and intentionally centered the conversation on broader public education funding needs rather than compensation alone. Collaboration between association leadership and board members remained positive throughout the process, and the resolution ultimately passed.

The Cut the Ropes campaign continues to grow as more members join the effort, united by the belief that stable funding is key to strong schools. By organizing our school boards, while pushing for change across the state, we can work to ensure future budgets focus less on cuts and more on opportunities for students and schools.

The Solution If approved, Cut the Ropes would: Unlock critical revenue for our schools and other essential services that need it, like health care, public safety, and infrastructure—all without raising taxes.

Allow the State to retain and spend revenue that it already collects in an amount equal to state K-12 funding.

Invest the retained revenue in K-12 education first, reducing pressure on the General Fund and ultimately freeing up budget capacity for other critical priorities.

Require General Fund K-12 funding to increase by up to 2% annually for the next ten years, providing stable, predictable growth to keep pace with population growth and student needs.

Require a public audit so everyone can see exactly where the money goes, including a report detailing how much excess revenue was retained and how it was spent.

We cannot continue to allow our students to suffer while asking the schools and educators who support them to do more with less.

Free the Funding coloradoea.org/CutTheRopes

CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 9

More Than a Month: Educators Reflect on Black History In honor of Black History Month, fellows and mentors from the A.C.E. Fellowship shared how they celebrate in their schools and classrooms, as well as why celebrating is important to them.

“The Black Student Alliance created a slide deck for our Advisory classes educating everyone on the origin and purpose of Black History Month. They created a Kahoot!, and planned a spirit week with dress up days. Honoring Black History Month is another way to help students feel seen.”

“We celebrate Black History Month by reading works from authors such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Toni Morrison. Honoring Black history is important because students need representation and the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the texts they read.”

—CAROYLN PORTER High School Science Teacher Cherry Creek Education Association

—VICTORIA PAEZ Fourth-Grade Classroom Teacher Westminster Education Association

“We dedicated a full week each to Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, and Mae Jemison. Honoring Black History Month allows my BIPOC students to see their own brilliance.”

“At my school, we invited community leaders (African Americans) as guest speakers who have excelled in various fields to encourage our students to do well in their studies.”

—DORIAN PARRA Kindergarten Teacher Jefferson County Education Association

­­—CHRISTIAN NAKELI Middle School Science/Math Teacher Denver Classroom Teachers Association

“I’m a sponsor for QSA, and we’re picking famous queer folks to research and present on. Teaching about and honoring Black History is fundamental to our collective liberation as people of color and folks who have identities that are on the fringe.”

“We organized a Black History Jeopardy competition to engage students in learning through fun, meaningful dialogue and friendly competition. When students understand the full history of America, they are better equipped to participate in building a more just and informed future.”

—ZOEL YBARRA Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Special Education Teacher Cherry Creek Education Association

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—ZELDA ALAO Elementary Classroom Teacher Cherry Creek Education Association

For the second year in a row, CEA celebrated Black History Month with an event centered on community, reflection, and joy. Members gathered to hear powerful words from inspiring speakers, engage in meaningful conversations with one another, and enjoy music that honored the richness and impact of Black history and culture. To read more visit coloea.org/BHM2026.

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CEA Journal DA Special Edition 2026 • 11 © 2025 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved. Travelers and The Travelers Umbrella are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries. PL-19885 Rev. 10-25

2026 delegate

assembly ELECTIONS

DISCLAIMER: Candidates who did not provide a photo in their submission are listed with no corresponding photo.

All candidate statements are printed as submitted. No edits or corrections have been made.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DR. TIMOTHY BROWN

NEA DIRECTOR

Dr. Timothy Brown, NBCT Denver Uniserv Unit Candidate for NEA Board of Directors I am running for re-election to the NEA Board of Directors I would be honored to have your vote to continue to represent Colorado. I have only just begun.

I have been a union member since 1987. My first experience in union leadership was becoming an Association Representation for the Denver Classroom Teachers Association in 1994, several weeks before our strike. Since that time, I have served in numerous roles at the local, state, and national levels, including: Membership Committee, CEA Ambassador Fellowship coach, Minority Concerns Task Force, Dues Review Committee, COPilot facilitator, CEA Legal Defense Fund Committee, CEA VIVA Teacher Licensure Task Force, CEA Resolutions Committee, and others.

Currently, I serve on the NEA Resolutions Committee, NEA Disability Rights Resource Cadre, CEA Health Care Task Force, CEA Awards Committee, and NEA Representative Assembly Delegate.

I am an Ex-Officio member of the NEA RA Host Committee.

Injustice keeps me awake at night. I am an advocate for educators, arts education, training for suicide intervention skills, and disability rights. I am an advocate for racial and economic justice, for workers’ rights, and for protecting the environment. I am an advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

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There are pressing issues facing the National Education Association in the current political climate. I am concerned about the demonization of groups of people. I sense the fear in my students’ eyes about immigration. I sense the frustration among my special education colleagues whose funding has been reduced or eliminated, preventing their students from having what they need to succeed. I feel angry when institutions of learning are forced to truckle to certain belief systems. I feel the fears of our international Colorado educators wondering about the status of their visas. I am horrified when entire school systems choose to close in order to keep their students safe from ICE raids.

In June 2025, I had the opportunity to meet with members of the education division of ACV/PULS, one of the Belgian labor unions, for a t-shirt exchange and conversation. I joined our Belgian colleagues in solidarity in a national strike about pension reductions, an increase in the national retirement age, and cuts in education prompted by the US Administration’s demands for higher payments to NATO. We face similar issues.

Serving as I have for many years with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the Colorado Education Association equips me with the knowledge needed to continue to serve in this position. I have a well-rounded knowledge of the issues NEA is facing. I would like to uplift Colorado educator voices for the issues we share. I would like to bring back knowledge to CEA members on national-level strategies and events so we can work together work together with our other state affiliates. A strong and informed body can face the challenges of the present and future.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE JASON MALMBERG

NEA DIRECTOR

For more than two decades, I have been a public school educator in one of the most challenged, diverse, and resilient communities in Colorado. I have taught in Adams 14 for most of my career, and I continue to teach in the classroom every single day—something I’m proud of, because it keeps me grounded in the real experiences of students and educators. For the past several years, I have also served as President of the Classroom Teachers Association, where I’ve worked alongside educators to build power, strengthen our union, and fight for the schools our students deserve. I am running for NEA Director because I believe deeply in educator voice, collective action, and the idea that the people closest to students should shape the future of public education.

In my district, we have faced nearly every major issue confronting public schools today: chronic underfunding, educator turnover, the pressures of state intervention, and political attacks on multilingual learners and working-class families. Through all of it, educators have remained the heartbeat of the community. My leadership has focused on honoring that strength—by building a union that listens, organizes, and leads with equity.

Over the last several years, our union has helped transform Central Elementary into a true community school, after fighting more than a decade to win that model. That work has shown

what is possible when families, students, and educators come together around shared goals. We have bargained for the common good, expanding recess protections, stabilizing workloads, and advocating for multilingual families who for too long were excluded from district decision-making. When the district faced severe staffing shortages, we not only pushed for better compensation, but helped craft retention solutions grounded in educator voice. And during our recent Mill and Bond campaigns, we brought the community into the work, reminding voters that stable, well-funded public schools benefit everyone. As an NEA Director, I want to bring these perspectives—those of a current classroom teacher, a union organizer, and a leader committed to social and racial justice—to the national level. NEA must remain a union that fights unapologetically for public education, that listens to and respects the expertise of educators, and that is responsive to the changing needs of students and families across the country. We are living in a moment when public education is under unprecedented attack. Extremists are attempting to dismantle the very institutions that sustain our democracy. The best response is to organize: to build strong locals, deepen member engagement, and stand firmly together in solidarity.

I believe in a union that empowers educators, not just represents them. A union that recognizes and nurtures the strengths of every community. A union that leads with compassion, courage, and clarity of purpose. I am ready to bring that commitment to the NEA Board, and I would be honored to earn your support.

CEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS PHYLLIS MURRAY ROBINETTE

AT-LARGE CEA RETIRED DIRECTOR Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy for the CEA Board of Directors. As your current elected board representative, I actively represented your voice at Board meetings by live commenting during meetings on social media, representing on the CEA Executive Director Evaluation, CEA Committee for All-Inclusive Membership Chair, and representing on the CEA Awards Committee. I am the CEA-R President representing all of you. Being your President is an opportunity to bring new innovative thinking and ways to appeal to today’s newest retirees. With this, I have been leading a book discussion group on generations and have brought new leader engagement. One of the recent additions is the addition of a CSEA/PPEA-Retired engaged

local and a Cherry Creek Retired local. Both are newly engaged, and new leadership is evolving. While leading the CEA-R Council this year, we have created new procedures for elections to save thousands of dollars for the CEA-R budget. We also appointed leaders to represent Colorado at the NEA level. This engagement is paying off as Colorado is leading work in membership, advocacy, and new leadership. We have also rebranded, and I have created a monthly newsletter to be more timely and share the activities of our members. As your CEA-R Board of Director, I wish to keep your PERA secure, as it is one of my top priorities. I am happy to feature PERA updates in our monthly newsletter to keep all of you informed.

Thank you for your consideration for this position.

ANN FRANCO

AT-LARGE CEA RETIRED ALTERNATE CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 13

Delegate Assembly Elections

CEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS KATHY GUSTAD

AT-LARGE EQUITY COUNCIL FOR RACE AND CULTURE DIRECTOR I am running for the Equity Council Director because I continue to be incredibly passionate about equity in education and representation among educators. We have so much more work to do to increase the diversity of educators in the state of Colorado. We need more educators of color, and we need more educators of color in leadership positions. I hope to continue to help educate members and work to break down the barriers that reinforce stereotypes that prevent inclusivity in education. Our students should see themselves in their educators, and I hope to continue to help bring the issues that educators of colors face to the forefront of our profession and our members.

SUE TEUMER

BIG THOMPSON UNISERV UNIT DIRECTOR I would appreciate the opportunity to represent BTUU on the CEA Board for one final two-year term. I would like to see projects such as redistricting through to completion and continue providing communication both from BTUU members to CEA and from CEA to members across our unit. I pride myself on being a good listener and on sharing the information people need to hear. I have learned a tremendous amount both from leaders and colleagues on the Board and from the experience serving as a member on the Financial Review Committee.

This opportunity has given me a greater understanding of our organization and how it works. I would be honored if you would allow me to serve one more term on the Board!

ALEX R RYCKMAN

CENTRAL ADAMS UNISERV UNIT DIRECTOR My name is Alex Ryckman, and I am the English Language Development Lead at Global Intermediate Academy.

Since becoming a teacher and joining my local in 2020, I’ve been an active advocate for educators and students at both 14 • CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026

the local and state levels. At the local level, I have served as an Association Representative and as a Member-at-Large on the Executive Board (2021-present). In these roles, I’ve contributed to our bargaining team as a member, served on our calendar committee and documents committee and worked as the interim Communications Chair including designing our association website, managing social media, and organizing a monthly newsletter to engage and inform members. I also have attended two fall bargaining conferences, been a delegate for my local for 3 years and serve on our CEA documents committee. My passions include addressing critical issues such as new teacher representation, teacher retention, mental health, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). These priorities drive my commitment to ensuring that educators and students alike have the resources and support they need to succeed. By seeking this position within CEA, I hope to further my learning about how teacher unions, CEA, and NEA are tackling these vital issues. My goal is to bring that knowledge back to strengthen our collective efforts across Colorado, ensuring every member has a voice and access to solutions that improve our profession and our students’ futures. Thank you for considering me as a candidate—I look forward to continuing to serve and advocate for educators.

ANGELICA GIVLER

COLORADO SPRINGS UNISERV UNIT DIRECTOR It has been an honor to serve for the last 2 years. I would love to continue serving. As the current director I have built relationships locally and across the state that has allowed our unit to partner with other locals during our strike and helping others through their issues. Continuing to build these relationships and create more is important for not only our local, but our state as education continues to be under attack. As director I will continue to share the needs of our local at the state level, advocate for education state wide, and make decisions that are in the best interest of those impacted. It would be an honor if you voted to allow me to continue representing our local.

CEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS EMILY OWEN

HANNAH R SQUIRE

COLORADO SPRINGS UNISERV UNIT ALTERNATE I am submitting this application in hopes of remaining the alternate for Dr. GivlerViers. It is important to have all voices heard when educational decisions are being made.

JENNIE CAMPBELL

FRONT RANGE UNISERV UNIT DIRECTOR I am honored to seek the opportunity to continue representing the Front Range Uniserv Unit on the CEA Board of Directors. Serving in this role has been meaningful and grounding, and I remain deeply committed to being a thoughtful, responsive, and reliable voice for our educators, students, and communities. Within the Cherry Creek Education Association, I have served on the executive board and bargaining team, experiences that have strengthened my understanding of both the big picture and the day-to-day realities facing educators.

As a special educator, I bring a student-centered lens to every conversation, consistently advocating for equity, inclusion, and the supports necessary for all students and staff to thrive. I value listening first. The stories shared by educators across our region matter, and I believe strong advocacy begins with understanding lived experiences. I am committed to elevating those voices at the state level and supporting pro-public education initiatives, candidates, and policies that protect our profession and strengthen our schools. I am a strong communicator, a collaborative leader, and a dedicated advocate for public education. If re-elected, I will continue to engage, listen, and act with integrity—working to ensure that the Front Range Uniserv Unit remains informed, represented, and empowered in the work of CEA. Thank you for your consideration and continued trust.

CARLYE HOLLLADAY

FRONT RANGE UNISERV UNIT ALTERNATE I’m honored to support our Board Director and to represent all the members of FRUU.

SAN JUAN UNISERV UNIT DIRECTOR There is no cause more worthy than supporting and protecting our students, families and teachers. I feel deeply about my responsibility to continue this work, especially now in these times. Representing rural communities in Southern Colorado sometimes requires different priorities than are needed in urban areas. Continuing this work means advocating for safety, respect, reasonable workloads and professional pay. In a time when civil rights are under attack and education careers aren’t considered “professional”, we need leaders who will speak out and defend the careers and objectives we so firmly believe are important.

Education can only be the great equalizer if students have access to free and public education. Fighting for funding, organizing for power and collaborating to achieve equity are some of the most important contributions we can make as individuals. As proud CEA members, these are the endeavors we believe in. Together we can do more! Thank you for your support.

LISA DANOS

SAN LUIS UNISERV UNIT DIRECTOR I want to continue being the voice of rural locals, especially those in my unit, which have unique needs and perspectives. One of the ways to do so is to continue my work on the CEA Board of Directors.

WENDY BERGMAN

TWO RIVERS UNISERV UNIT DIRECTOR I’ve worked with you and our union siblings to build great things over the years! We’ve engaged more members, created regular all member meetings, rallied for funding and are driving grass roots organizing around the state. I am grounded in relationships with rank and file educators and member organizers. On the board I will continue to expand our members’ organizing efforts, ensure financial stability and move our institution into the broader labor movement so we can win for working people and build the future our children deserve. It’s got to be us, let’s go together! - In Solidarity CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 15

Delegate Assembly Elections

COLORADO FUND FOR CHILDREN & PUBLIC EDUCATION KASEY ELLIS

REGION TWO REPRESENTATIVE (BOULDER/ WESTMINSTER, CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY, FRONT RANGE) I am honored to seek re-election to the CEA FUND, representing Region Two. Having completed my first term, I am committed to continuing to advocate for educators, support our members, and strengthen collective action. I would appreciate the opportunity to serve another two-year term.

JENN BALLIEW

REGION FOUR REPRESENTATIVE (BIG THOMPSON, NORTHERN CO, NORTHEASTERN CO, TWO RIVERS) I would love to continue to serve as the Region Four representative on the CEA Fund. I know how the Fund works and see how integral it is to CEA and our educator voice to be at the table politically.

Elect me to continue to represent you.

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JUSTINA CARTER

REGION FIVE REPRESENTATIVE (COLORADO SPRINGS, PIKES PEAK, SPANISH PEAKS, SOUTHEAST CO) I’m a Pueblo D60 teacher and proud to represent region 5 on the CEA Fund. The Fund is a hardworking, smart, collaborative political action committee and it would be my honor to serve a final term with this CEA team. Thank you for your consideration.

MAUREEN KELLY MCGUIRE

REGION SIX REPRESENTATIVE (SAN JUAN, SAN LUIS, SKI COUNTRY, WEST CENTRAL) It is vitally important that we continue to have voices from around the state on the fund. I would be honored to continue for another term. The work on the fund is important to all of our communities, and I am happy to support the Western Slope!

COLORADO DELEGATES FOR NEA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY DR. TIMOTHY BROWN

REGION ONE (AURORALITTLETON, DENVER)

I would like to continue to serve Colorado at the NEA Representative Assembly. Being elected as a delegate is required for me being able to vote on the NEA Resolutions Committee and at the Representative Assembly.

DR. MARIA FALCÓN

REGION ONE (AURORALITTLETON, DENVER)

My name is Dr. Maria Falcón. I am seeking election as a Colorado State Delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly. I’m a Denver Public Schools special education teacher, and DCTA Board member. I would be honored to represent Colorado educators and ensure our voices are heard at the national level.

TAWNIA WILDER

REGION FOUR REPRESENTATIVE (BIG THOMPSON, NORTHERN CO, NORTHEASTERN CO, TWO RIVERS) As a CEA delegate to the NEA RA, I will champion public education, educator dignity, and student equity.

I bring collaborative leadership, thoughtful decision-making, and a commitment to representing Colorado members with courage, transparency, and care.

CHRISTOPHER NELSON

REGION FIVE REPRESENTATIVE (COLORADO SPRINGS, PIKES PEAK, SPANISH PEAKS, SOUTHEAST CO)

ANGELICA GIVLER

AT-LARGE STATEWIDE DELEGATE

I have previously attended two RAs, however, one was to Philadelphia. I believe that my experience and dedication to student, staff, education, and the union makes me a strong candidate for an At-Large position. I would consider how our state would be impacted by decisions and vote accordingly.

KEVIN VICK

AT-LARGE STATEWIDE DELEGATE As your state president, it would be my honor to be a delegate at the upcoming NEA RA to represent the voices of educators across the state and help ensure Colorado is part of the conversations and decisions shaping the future of public education and our national union.

CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 17

July 3–7, 2026 Denver, CO

NEA Representative Assembly Nearly 7,000 educators from communities across America will gather to set the agenda for America’s largest labor union during the National Education Association’s annual Representative Assembly in Denver, Colorado, July 3-7, 2026.

18 • CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026

Volunteer for NEA RA SIGN UP AT COLOEA.ORG/NEA-RA-VOLUNTEER

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CalCas.com/CEA | 1.866.268.1754 CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 19 CA Lic#0041343 ©2025 CCMC. Availability may vary by state. Coverages are subject to availability and eligibility.

2026 Retired Elections REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE WINNERS CEA-Retired Regional Representatives and Alternates from Regions 2, 4, and 6* to the CEA-Retired Representative Council and Representatives to the National Education Association Representative Assembly (NEA RA) were up for election in 2026.

MARGARET MEIER

REGION TWO REPRESENTATIVE

BEV GREEN

REGION FOUR REPRESENTATIVE

CHARLOTTE GREEN

REGION FOUR ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE

*No nominations for Region Two Alternate, Region Six Representative, and Region Six Alternate. No candidate will be appointed.

NEA-RA DELEGATE CANDIDATES As of March 1, 2026 the following retired members are candidates to represent CEA-R at the NEA Retired Meeting and Representative Assembly, which will be held in Denver, Colorado, in July 2026. Final election results will be announced after retired elections close on March 20, 2026.

LLOYD BOURDON

CHARLOTTE GREEN

LORI GOLDSTEIN

GAIL KNOWLES

BEV GREEN

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We Gather.

We Give Back.

We Advocate.

Join CEA Retired Not Retired Yet? If you’re 45+, you can join now as a Pre-Retired Life Member.

Because public education still matters.

Because educators still matter.

CEA Journal • DA Special Edition 2026 • 21

Get Involved Find your voice, build community, and help strengthen your union—join a CEA council or caucus today!

COUNCILS ASPIRING EDUCATORS COUNCIL The Aspiring Ed Council is made up of college students and early-career educators preparing to enter education.

The council empowers future teachers through leadership development, advocacy training, and opportunities to connect with mentors and peers across Colorado. Focused on strengthening public education, members engage in organizing, policy discussions, and community outreach to ensure they are ready not only to lead classrooms, but also to lead change. Interested? Email Aspiring Ed Council Board Rep, Andrea Donlucas: donlucasandrea@gmail.com.

CEA-RETIRED COUNCIL CEA Retired is a statewide local of CEA & NEA. We are the governing body that represents all of CEA’s retired educators and education support professionals.

We advocate for the interests of our fellow retired members on issues such as pension security, healthcare, and continued involvement in public education policy. Interested? Email CEA-Retired President, Phyllis Robinette: probinette@coloradoea.org.

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COLORADO’S RISING EDUCATORS (CORE) COUNCIL Colorado Rising Educators (CORE) is dedicated to supporting and empowering early career educators across Colorado.

If you’re in your first eight years of teaching, CORE offers a space to connect, grow professionally, and advocate for the changes you want to see in public education. Interested? Email Governance Liaison, CEA Vice President Liz Waddick: lwaddick@coloradoea.org.

EQUITY COUNCIL FOR RACE AND CULTURE The CEA Equity Council for Race and Culture (Equity Council) is a group of members of color who advocate for educators and students of color in Colorado. The Council was created to dismantle barriers of educational equity impacting our educators and students.

We share research supporting our goals, dissect inequitable policies, and best practices. Interested? Email Equity Council Staff Liaison, Monica Hunter: mhunter@coloradoea.org.

MEMBER PROGRAMS ADVOCACY, CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY FELLOWSHIP EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS (ESP) COUNCIL The CEA Education Support Professionals (ESPs) Council is a leadership body that represents and advocates for our ESP members, including paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, office staff, and other essential school employees. The council advocates for ESPs by addressing workplace issues, promoting professional development, and ensuring your voices are heard.

It plays a key role in organizing ESP members, improving working conditions, and advancing policies that support fair wages, job security, and respect for your contributions to public education.

Interested? Email ESP Council Staff Liaison, Matthew Holloway: mholloway@coloradoea.org.

HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCIL The Higher Ed Council is made up of active Higher Education members from across the state. The council works to address issues relevant to the Higher Education membership. The council meets throughout the year both virtually and in person. Interested? Email Higher Ed Council Board Rep Alisa Mavrotheris: alisa.mavro@gmail.com.

The Advocacy, Civil Rights, Equity (A.C.E.) Fellowship is a program for CEA members of color that provides opportunities to address the issues BIPOC educators experience in their classrooms, schools, and districts. During the course of the school year, fellows learn ways to increase retention, sustainability, and advocacy, by completing book studies, participating in organizing workshops, and leading CEA cultural events. Fellows also attend the BIPOC Educators’ Lobby Day, Delegate Assembly, and Summer Leadership Conference. The A.C.E. Fellowship creates an environment for BIPOC members to engage directly with both CEA and NEA programs and campaigns. Interested?

Applications for the 2026-2027 A.C.E. Fellowship program will open in May 2026.

Email Director of Human & Civil Rights, Monica Hunter: mhunter@coloradoea.org for more information.

YEAR ROUND ORGANIZING PROGRAM The Year Round Organizing program is about educators leading in their own communities while connecting to a bigger, statewide vision for fully funded public education in Colorado. Member Organizers in the CEA YRO program are classroom teachers, education support professionals, and special service providers who have committed to organizing in their communities all year long. Their work looks different in every local, but the goal is the same: to increase our power and build relationships that move us closer to a permanent fix for Colorado’s school funding crisis. When we organize locally, we win together. Interested? Email CEA Zone Organizer, Jackie Parkins: jparkins@coloradoea.org.

CAUCUSES * •

ACCESS (SPED & SSP) CAUCUS

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BLACK EDUCATORS CAUCUS

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CEA ARTS, PHYSICAL, AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CAUCUS

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CEA JEWISH AFFAIRS CAUCUS

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COLORADO EDUCATORS ACCESS CAUCUS

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EDUCATORS FOR JUSTICE CAUCUS

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LGBTQ CAUCUS

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MEN’S CAUCUS

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WOMEN’S CAUCUS

*Disclaimer: The use of “CEA” in connection with a recognized caucus name indicates only that the group is made up of CEA members and does not in any way indicate that the caucus speaks for, or acts on behalf of, CEA. CEA staff is available to provide information about CEA policies, rules, program, and services. Requests for limited staff assistance, duplication of materials, and/or information dissemination should be made to the CEA Executive Office.

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coloradoea.org nea.org @ColoradoEA

The Colorado School Journal is the official member publication of the Colorado Education Association (CEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association. The Journal (ISSN-0079-3326) is published

by CEA throughout the school year. Digital issues are posted on CEA’s website. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily imply CEA endorsement.