Joseph Shelton Calls Out District 11 Board Members for Misplaced Priorities Amid Ongoing Crisis in Public Education
- sheltonford11
- Apr 16
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2025
Joseph Shelton Calls Out District 11 Board Members for Misplaced Priorities Amid Ongoing Crisis in Public Education
Colorado Springs, CO — As Colorado Springs School District 11 continues to face critical challenges — including aging infrastructure leading to school fires, an exodus of students to neighboring districts, and record-high teacher turnover — some current board members have chosen to focus their attention on divisive political posturing rather than addressing the urgent needs of our students.
Colorado Springs School District 11 Board Directors Jill Haffley, Jason Jorgenson, Thomas Carey, and Lauren Nelson recently signed onto a statewide letter advocating for policies that target transgender students, calling on the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) to ban trans girls from participating in girls' sports. The letter echoes directives from the Trump administration and ignores the real issues facing District 11 families and staff.
“Our schools are literally falling apart, our educators are burning out and leaving, and students are transferring out at alarming rates,” said Shelton, candidate for the District 11 Board of Education. “Yet some of our current leaders seem more interested in fighting a culture war than solving the problems threatening the future of every student.”
“Let’s be clear,” Shelton continued, “these board members don’t care about all students. They care about students who fit inside a narrow box. By signing this letter, Directors Haffley, Jorgenson, Carey, and Nelson have made it painfully evident that her focus is not on every child in our district — only the ones who align with her worldview.”
This distraction comes at a time when District 11 can least afford it. The district is slipping behind academically, struggling to maintain facilities, and losing experienced educators due to low morale and lack of support.
“We need school board members who care about every student, not just the ones who match a political narrative. We need leaders committed to revitalizing District 11 — not those willing to let kids fall through the cracks in the name of ideology,” Shelton stated. “Our kids deserve better than performative politics.”
Joseph Shelton is running for the District 11 Board of Education in the November 4, 2025 election. Their campaign is rooted in honesty, transparency, revitalization, and a belief that every student, regardless of background, identity, or ability, deserves a chance to succeed.
For more information or to get involved with the campaign, please visit SheltonforD11.com.
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Media Contact:
Joseph Shelton
719-290-0440
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