Teacher Feature

TEACHING THE FUTURE

By Chloe Ragsdale

Just 20 miles east of Durango lies the town of Bayfield, a remarkable combination of historic landmarks, majestic natural life, and a bustling community. In such a diverse and developing community, teachers Julia and Andy Duffy contribute to the innovative future of Bayfield with their prominent presence in education.

Now entering their 11th year in education, Julia and Andy spent the majority of their teaching careers in Simla, a small town in eastern Colorado, where their school graduated around 20 students a year. Following the graduation of their youngest child, the couple moved to Bayfield with the hopes of continuing their passion for education while remaining in a tight-knit rural community. After moving to Bayfield, their dreams were achieved, as the friendly and encouraging nature of the town allowed them to succeed not only in their teaching careers, but through the nurturing of Bayfield’s youth as well.

“Bayfield is a fantastic rural community that values education, and my fellow colleagues are amazing,” says Andy, who has taught a range of English language arts to social studies and is currently the dean of students at Bayfield High School.

Bayfield’s environment fosters a healthy and dynamic community for all but especially for the education system, as its smaller scale provides more structure and enjoyment to its students and staff.

“The best part of teaching in Bayfield is that it really is a supportive and friendly community,” says Julia.

As teachers in a rural town, Andy and Julia have learned to value the importance of connection, especially in a year where screen-to-screen interaction has largely replaced face-to-face connection.

Julia, who currently teaches eighth- grade science, comments on the remarkable capabilities of connection in the world of education. Even in the face of hardship, this fact remains true, as her extensive experience in education allows her to build connections that transcend the screen.

“It is amazing to be a part of that triumph and to witness the self-satisfaction the student experiences… That is so meaningful to me and honestly brings me to tears,” says Julia.

Despite the move from Simla to Bayfield, and regardless of the extreme difficulties posed over this past year, both Julia's and Andy’s priorities remain the same: to provide excellent education and excitement to future generations.

“Children are our future, and they will make the world a better place,” says Andy.