Top teachers make over $90,000 per year at a middle school in southwest Colorado

Mountain Middle School in Durango, Colorado has implemented a series of measures to address teacher recruitment and retention challenges, and as part of the strategy, the school has raised teacher salaries and introduced quarterly bonuses.

According to a November 18, 2024 Durango Herald news story, the $3,500 salary increase and $2,000 quarterly bonuses are part of an effort to boost teacher compensation, with “top-end teacher compensation” now exceeding $90,000.

“We are excited to be in a position to provide this incentive to all employees,” Executive Director Shane Voss told the newspaper

These salary adjustments come at a time when schools in Durango – like those in many part of Colorado – are facing escalating living costs, and they reflect the school’s commitment to improving financial support for its educators. To fund these increases, the Herald reported that the school leveraged a mix of state funding, private donations, and a 2016 mill levy override. Voss said the mill levy and school investments played a crucial role, with roughly 30% of teacher bonuses being funded through mill levy dollars, and the remainder coming from the school’s operating surplus and investments.

Mountain Middle is not alone in its efforts to tackle the teacher shortage and retention crisis. Other districts in the region, have also raised their base salaries to make their positions more competitive.

Voss told the newspaper that Mountain Middle has not faced significant retention issues, but the school remains proactive in addressing potential challenges as “the cost of living continues to rise and affordable housing options remain scarce.”

According to the article, the school’s approach to retaining staff includes steady pay increases for long-term teachers, which is part of its “legacy compensation package” designed to reward those who stay for five years or more. The Herald noted that 66% of the school’s operating funds come from local property taxes and state per-pupil revenue, and Mountain Middle has been able to allocate more resources toward teacher compensation despite budget constraints. This model of using a combination of local funding and innovative financial strategies has allowed the school to remain competitive in an increasingly difficult market for educators.

For the broader community, the situation reflects the ongoing difficulties many school districts in La Plata County face. Increasing cost of living has forced many schools to rethink their compensation models to ensure that teachers can afford to live and work in the region.

Mountain Middle’s board president, Lorien Chambers Schuldt, said the compensation increases point to the school’s recognition of teacher’s “incredible dedication to the families and students” and the need to “ease the strain” of living in such a high-cost area. By implementing these measures, the school aims to not only attract talent but also ensure its current teachers remain in place despite the growing financial pressures caused by the local housing market.

The challenges faced by Mountain Middle School are a microcosm of the struggles seen across Colorado, where teacher shortages and high turnover rates are pressing issues. The Herald reported that Colorado has seen a rising number of unfilled teaching positions, with 9% of positions unfilled during the 2023-24 school year and an increasing reliance on “shortage mechanisms” like hiring long-term substitutes and emergency authorization holders.