Rewarding Excellence in Teaching - Grand Junction

Great schools are built by great teachers. Behind every student who discovers a love of learning, masters a difficult concept, develops confidence, or begins to recognize his or her own potential is a teacher who cares deeply about the student and providing an excellent education. 

At Ascent Classical Academy of Grand Junction, we believe teaching is more than a profession. It is a calling. 

Our teachers come to school each day with a commitment to something larger than a lesson plan or a curriculum map. They are dedicated to educating the minds and hearts of young people-to cultivating a love of truth, a desire for goodness, an appreciation for beauty, and the intellectual habits and virtues that prepare students to lead meaningful lives. 

They teach students to read with fluency and understanding, to reason mathematically, to ask thoughtful questions, to engage with great works of literature, understand history, and to approach the world with wonder. Just as importantly, they model courage, responsibility, justice, moderation, friendship, and prudence. They know that the influence of a good teacher extends far beyond the classroom and often lasts a lifetime. 

This work matters and the people who do it matter. 

The Challenge: Rewarding Excellence in a Charter School

There is, however, a challenge facing schools like ours: attracting and retaining exceptional teachers while operating within the financial realities of a public charter school. 

Colorado charter school are tuition-free public schools. They are independently operated and accountable for their academic and financial performance, but they often face significant financial constraints compared with traditional district-operated schools. Enrollment-based funding, facility expenses, and the costs of operating a smaller, independent school can leave fewer resources available for teacher compensation. 

The difference is substantial. According to the Colorado Department of Education's most recent published side-by-side comparison of charter and non-charter teacher salaries, the average Colorado charter school teacher earned $52,659 in 2023–24, compared with $71,403 for teachers in non-charter public schools. That is an annual difference of $18,744, meaning charter school teachers earned, on average, only 73.7% of their district-school counterparts' salaries. 

This disparity creates a difficult reality. Charter schools compete for the same talented, experienced, and highly qualified educators as traditional public school districts, but they often cannot offer comparable compensation. Even when teachers are deeply committed to a school's mission, passion alone should not be the price of pursuing excellence in education.

At Ascent, we believe that exceptional teaching deserves meaningful recognition and reward. We also believe that outstanding educators should have opportunities to grow professionally, be recognized for their contributions, and receive compensation that reflects the value of their work.

That is why we are launching Rewarding Excellence in Teaching. 

Our initial goal is to raise $10,000.00 to supplement performance compensation the teachers who sacrifice daily for the good of their students and the love of our school's mission.