After Polis wandered through the chaos of students gathering for class, Principal Marie Voss-Patterson introduced the governor to a crowd of students, parents and staff members, likening his position to \u201cthe head or principal of all Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud on behalf of the state of Colorado to welcome you back to school,\u201d Polis said.<\/p>\n
Just like any good principal, Polis made funding for education a priority in his first year by supporting funding for full-day kindergarten across the state.<\/p>\n
Durango School District 9-R received $1.1 million for full-day kindergarten this year, which allowed the district to increase funding for staff salaries, said Superintendent Dan Snowberger.<\/p>\n Voss-Patterson said fair pay for teachers is particularly important because fewer and fewer college students are majoring in education.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gives the message that teaching is a profession that is worthwhile,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Polis didn\u2019t spend long explaining the recently approved funding for education, focusing instead on his anxious and fidgety audience.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are going to have an amazing year. You are going to learn a lot. \u2026 You are going to learn to be good people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n However, the governor\u2019s appearance didn\u2019t wash away first-day nerves for some students caught up in the emotions of the moment.<\/p>\n Wylie Myrick, 6, was among those who shed a few tears.<\/p>\n Wylie\u2019s mom, Danielle Murray, said her son tends to get emotional in new situations, but once he is settled in the classroom, he loves his classmates and activities that allow him to be creative.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a great time and he doesn\u2019t want to leave,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n