What Thompson school board candidates say about staff retention
Coyote Ridge Elementary students enjoy Colorado-sourced school lunch
Students at Coyote Ridge Elementary in Fort Collins enjoy a school lunch sourced entirely from Colorado-grown and produced agricultural products.
As you weigh which Thompson School District Board of Education candidates will get your votes this election, you might be wondering what thoughts they have on attracting and retaining quality staff.
The Coloradoan sent identical questionnaires to all candidates running for seats on local school district boards of education in the Nov. 4, 2025, election.
Below are their answers to this question: Given the rising cost of living in Northern Colorado, what steps should be taken to ensure the district is able to attract and retain the best teachers, support staff, administrators and district leaders?
Note: Candidate responses were reviewed and, in some cases, lightly edited to adhere to Coloradoan style guidelines. School board members in Colorado must reside within the geographic boundaries of the specific district that they hope to represent but are elected by all voters within the boundaries of their school district.
Thompson School District Board of Education District B
Mike Scholl
“The high cost of housing presents a significant challenge, and it is critical that all TSD staff have the opportunity to live within the community they serve. To support this goal, the district should ensure that teacher and staff compensation remains competitive with neighboring districts and is responsive to the region’s overall cost of living.
“Additionally, I believe that TSD should explore housing-related incentives, including relocation assistance, stipends or bonuses linked to housing expenses, to help attract and retain qualified educators and staff.”
Check out Scholl’s full Q&A here.
Thompson School District Board of Education District E
Mary Buchanan
We asked all Thompson School District Board of Education candidates to complete a Q&A. As of the morning of Oct. 21, Buchanan had not submitted her Q&A.
Alexandra Lessem
“To attract and retain teachers and staff, the district should keep working on improving the teaching environment through providing adequate support in the classroom, relevant and applicable professional development, tools to help communicate with families and community members and the autonomy to use their expertise to do their job without excessive oversight.
“It is also important to continually seek out ways to pay the district’s teachers and staff better. I would be supportive of future efforts to pass a special mill levy which would provide funds to increase staff and teacher salaries. In the meantime, we can continue to look at ways to streamline processes and job categories to funnel more funds to the frontline teachers and staff and look at creative ways to show appreciation.”
Check out Lessem’s full Q&A here.
Thompson School District Board of Education District F
Dmitri Atrash
“To attract and keep the best educators, Thompson must stay competitive with neighboring districts on pay and benefits while also fostering a culture where staff feel valued and supported. Compensation matters, but so do manageable workloads, professional growth opportunities and meaningful input in decision-making.
“Investing in mentoring, career pathways and wellness resources shows staff they are respected as professionals. By addressing both financial and workplace needs, we can make Thompson a destination district where talented teachers and staff choose to build their careers.”
Check out Atrash’s full Q&A here.
Lori Goebel
“We must ensure competitive compensation for teachers and staff while being transparent and efficient with taxpayer dollars. Retention also depends on working conditions. To maintain safe, respectful classrooms, there needs to be support from leadership and clear discipline policies. Teachers thrive when they can teach without distraction and when their voices are heard.
“We also need to listen to why staff leave by performing exit interviews and then responding accordingly. Respect and support for educators goes beyond salary, it’s about creating a culture where they can succeed.”
Check out Goebel’s full Q&A here.
Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025.
link
