Seventh-grade math teacher Greg Meshell started off a new school year in Cortez on Monday, knowing that every penny he earns keeps a roof over his head. Even with 27 years’ experience, even with a pay raise, his rent takes up 42 percent of his salary. Another Cortez educator, first year teacher Cassidy Proctor, who has a Master’s degree, needs her parents’ support to survive. She earns $44,000 a year. Teachers across Colorado, like Proctor and Meshell, are increasingly being priced out of the communities they serve.
