As the Montezuma-Cortez school district heads into its first month of the new school year, the district provided information to the community about the international teachers who are working in the district this year.
The district thanked current teachers, administrators and staff who have helped prepare for the new year, while saying they hope to continue to improve their schools in an email earlier this month.
While many districts across the state are experiencing a teacher shortage, the district said they have filled their vacant teaching positions for the 2024-25 school year, and some of these positions were filled with the help of the 24 foreign national teachers who have come into the district via a cultural exchange program.
The program, which is called BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor Program, is a project of the Department of State. This project helps provide international teachers to American classrooms for up to five years.
The teachers’ visas are sponsored by the Teacher’s Council, according to information provided to The Journal by Montezuma-Cortez school district HR director Justin Schmitt.
Many of the teachers are already in Montezuma County and have been training since the start of the school year, but the district said some of the teachers are still in the process of traveling to Cortez.
According to Schmitt and Debra Ramsey, executive assistant to the superintendent and school board, all of the international teachers in Montezuma County are from the Philippines.
“These teachers were thoroughly vetted and carefully interviewed before being offered employment with our district,” the district said. “They are all experienced, well-educated teachers that are excited to invest in our students. We are grateful that they have answered our call.”
The district noted that it can be difficult moving to a different country, and asked that students, families and members of the communities help welcome the teachers while being understanding of the learning curve and cultural differences the teachers will most likely experience.
“It takes incredible bravery to move away from home to a new country. It is even more challenging to join a new educational system with different expectations and to experience life in a culture that is different from their own. We ask our students, their families and our community members to give grace and have patience as our new teachers acclimate to our schools and our community,” the district said. “It will take time for our new teachers to learn our systems and methodologies and to develop relationships with our students and staff members in their schools and the members of our community.”
The J1 visa website shared that the program, which has been utilized since 1961, has the mission of enhancing “mutual understanding between Americans and people globally,” adding that it is “crucial for national security and fostering international connections.”
The program requires the teachers to “share their American experience” once they return to their home countries.
In Schmitt’s HR report given at the Aug. 20 school board meeting, it was reported that 39 licensed employees, 24 international teachers and 12 nonlicensed employees were hired to fill vacant positions. Twelve positions remain open, including three counseling positions, seven coaching positions and nine classified positions.
Scmitt also provided The Journal with the current salary schedule for teachers, which range from Step to Step 30. The salary schedules were adopted May 21, 2024, but were revised June 4.
They range from $40,000 to $68,000.
| College degree | Salary |
| Bachelor’s degree | $40,000-$46,000 |
| Bachelor’s plus 15 credits | $41,000-$48,800 |
| Bachelor’s plus 30 credits | $42,000-$52,200 |
| Bachelor’s plus 45 credits | $43,000-$56,200 |
| Master’s degree | $44,000-$57,800 |
| Master’s plus 15 credits | $45,500-$59,900 |
| Master’s plus 30 credits | $47,000-$65,000 |
| Master’s plus 45 credits | $48,500-$66,500 |
| Master’s plus 60 credits | $50,000-$68,000 |
| Doctorate degree | $50,000-$68,000 |
If the district receives a mill levy override after the November election, Superintendent Tom Burris has said that the money from the override will be used to increase teacher salaries to be comparable to higher salaries in neighboring districts.
To conclude the email about the new international teachers, the district thanked the parents, families and community members who volunteer and participate in school activities, specifically thanking those who opened their homes to teachers in need of one.
“Thank you to those community members that have invited new teachers into their homes, provided supplies to create comfortable homes as well as provided support in shopping and transportation,” the district finished.
The decision to hire the teachers was announced at the June school board meeting.
