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Education Foundation of Eagle County awards $74,000 in scholarships to district educators, staff

Funding empowers teachers to grow professionally

Karla Juarez, a first grade teacher at Gypsum Elementary School, is a recipient of an EFEC Scholarship Award. The scholarship allowed her to attend the first semester of a graduate summer program at the University of Salamanca, Spain, last summer.
Courtesy photo

The Education Foundation of Eagle County has distributed $74,000 in scholarships to 34 Eagle County Schools teachers and staff pursuing degrees and certifications through its 2025 EFEC Scholarship Awards. The scholarships are an investment in the future of Eagle County’s education system, providing funding that empowers teachers to grow professionally and providing a crucial opportunity for educators to enhance their skills and earning potential, ultimately strengthening the educational experience for students throughout Eagle County.

Established in 2001, EFEC’s Scholarship Awards have provided over 150 Eagle County School District educators and support staff with more than $250,000 in scholarships for professional development, advanced degrees and certifications. In a state that ranks among the lowest in the nation for teacher pay competitiveness, EFEC’s scholarship awards serve a dual purpose: increasing the earning potential of educators and school staff, and enhancing the quality of instruction for Eagle County students.

“We believe that investing in educators is one of the best ways to ensure that students receive the high-quality education they deserve — and that the talented teachers in our community stay in our schools,” said Tessa Kirchner, vice president at EFEC, in a news release. “This year, we are thrilled to award $74,000 in scholarships to talented teachers and school staff, which will directly impact not only their careers but also the future of our local schools.”



Recipients of this year’s EFEC Scholarship Award include professionals looking to pursue advanced degrees in school counseling, Spanish language, education, curriculum development, principal licensure, and a variety of other degrees and professional certifications, and conferences.

“Last summer, I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from EFEC to attend the first semester of a graduate summer program at the University of Salamanca, Spain,” said Karla Juarez, a first grade teacher at Gypsum Elementary School. “This was a surreal experience that I never imagined I’d have. It felt so unreal to know that I was pursuing graduate-level studies, and abroad. Stepping into that hot classroom, halfway across the word, as a student again, awakened something in me I didn’t realize I was missing. Since returning, I’ve brought that renewed energy into my classroom.”

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Juarez said the experience helped her better support her students, and not just academically, but in showing them what’s possible.

“Many of them come from backgrounds similar to mine, and their reactions when they learn what I’m doing are priceless,” she said. “I know they see themselves in me because of conversations I have had with them and their parents, and for a few of them, it’s the first time they’ve seen someone who looks like them and shares their story pursuing education.”

Each scholarship recipient commits to a minimum of three additional years of service within the Eagle County School District, guaranteeing that the benefits of this program are felt directly in local pre-K through 12th-grade classrooms. This commitment strengthens the continuity of education, builds lasting relationships between students and educators, and reinforces a culture of excellence throughout the district.

This year’s cohort of scholarship recipients represents a diverse group of passionate, forward-thinking teachers and support staff committed to expanding their impact both within and outside the classroom.

For more information about the EFEC Scholarship Awards or to support the important program, visit EFEC.org/scholarship-awards.

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