Putting Students and Parents First

Vote November 4, 2025

Putting Students and Parents First

Vote November 4, 2025

Why I'm Running

At RE1 School Board, our mission is to prioritize students and parents in every decision we make. We believe that by working together, we can create an environment that fosters academic excellence and community involvement.Our schools are the heart of the Roaring Fork Valley—but right now, RE-1 is facing urgent challenges. From falling academic scores and frustrated educators to a lack of parent voice and financial instability, we are at a crossroads.

As a mother of four and a longtime community member, I’ve seen firsthand how strong schools uplift families and how missteps affect everyone. I’m running for school board because we deserve better—and I’m ready to lead with common sense, transparency, and a family-first mindset.

My Priorities

1. Raise Academic Standards

Academic Achievement: Are Our Students Being Set Up to Succeed?

Current district performance data raises serious concerns about student achievement—and the goals set by district leadership.

According to the Roaring Fork Strategic Planning Dashboard:

Math (NWEA) 5-Year Goal is only 45%.
- BOY (Beginning of Year) Overall: 18%
  - Hispanic: 12%
  - White/Non-Hispanic: 65% (already exceeds goal)
- MOY (Middle of Year): Overall dropped to 17%
  - Hispanic: 10%
  - White/Non-Hispanic: 63%
Reading (NWEA) 5-Year Goal is just 56%.
- BOY: Overall 29%
  - Hispanic: 28%
  - White/Non-Hispanic: 98%
- MOY: Still 28%
  - Hispanic: 26%
  - White/Non-Hispanic: 99%

🔍 No significant improvement occurred between BOY and MOY scores. In fact, scores dropped in some areas.

⚠️ Why are the goals set so low? And why are we content with standards that some groups already exceed while others fall further behind?

2. Support Our Teachers

Teacher Retention & Support: Are We Taking Care of Our Educators?

The district’s own goal is for 75% of staff to feel supported by the central office.

📉 Currently, only 35% of staff report satisfaction with Human Resources support.

Issues like housing affordability, health insurance options, and basic transparency are contributing to dissatisfaction and attrition.

3. Empower Parents

Parent Engagement: Listening or Lip Service?

In 2023–2024, parent participation was alarmingly low:

Panorama District Survey: 23%
Panorama School Survey: 25%
Target: 50%

On the topic of trust and respect:

District Survey:
- Hispanic families: 77%
- White families: 57%
School Survey:
- Hispanic families: 74%
- White families: 62%

📢 Many parents—especially those raising concerns about curriculum like the Gender Toolkit and 3Rs Health and Sex Ed—feel dismissed or gaslit, rather than heard.

4. Budget Smarter

Budget Oversight: Missteps and Mismanagement

Though transparency has improved, the district's budgeting history is cause for concern:

Superintendent Rob Stein lacked financial transparency.
Jesus Rodriguez increased administrative spending and pursued ideological agendas.
A previous CFO failed to include Glenwood Springs High School in the annual budget.
Current Superintendent Anna Cole underestimated rising health insurance costs, contributing to budget shortfalls.

➡️ While the current CFO is making progress, many of the same individuals responsible for past errors remain in leadership roles—including School Board President Kathryn Kuhlenberg and Superintendent Anna Cole.

5. Improve Transparency

Opaque Decision-Making: Parents Left in the Dark

The Equity Audit conducted in early 2024 received minimal public notice or engagement despite major implications.

📌 Policies like the Gender Toolkit and 3Rs Curriculum were pushed forward without clear communication or community buy-in.

Many parents feel blindsided and excluded from decisions affecting their children’s education.

6. Hire on Merit

Hiring Practices: Equity or Quotas?

The district has stated goals to match staff demographics to student demographics (currently ~56% Hispanic students).

Policy pushes for 30% of teachers and 56% of staff to be “Latinx.”
This approach prioritizes race/ethnicity over qualifications.

Is this equitable hiring—or systemic discrimination? The community deserves clarity and accountability.

💬 Watch the May 14, 2025, board meeting for more on this issue.

Elizabeth Cockrill Taylor for RE-1 School Board

Putting Students and Parents First

Putting Students and Parents First

Why I'm Running

My Priorities

1. Raise Academic Standards

Academic Achievement: Are Our Students Being Set Up to Succeed?

2. Support Our Teachers

Teacher Retention & Support: Are We Taking Care of Our Educators?

3. Empower Parents

Parent Engagement: Listening or Lip Service?

4. Budget Smarter

Budget Oversight: Missteps and Mismanagement

5. Improve Transparency

Opaque Decision-Making: Parents Left in the Dark

6. Hire on Merit

Hiring Practices: Equity or Quotas?

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