Angel Givler-Viers, an award-winning fifth-grade teacher in Colorado Springs, was once ordered by school officials to pack her personal belongings, go home, and remain silent. After a year-long battle, Givler-Viers has been reinstated as a District 11 teacher following a judge’s formal recommendation.
The ruling restored Givler-Viers’ full salary and provided back pay. In examining the case brought by the superintendent against the teacher, the judge used the word “trivial” nine times. Givler-Viers described the outcome as a “huge win,” adding that while she feels tired, she also feels “victorious.”
The Impact of the Dismissal
The removal of the teacher, known to students as “Dr. G,” occurred during a literacy lesson. Amanda Brown, a District 11 kindergarten teacher and parent whose daughter was in the classroom at the time, described the moment as “terrifying.”
The period following the dismissal was marked by financial and emotional hardship. According to state policy, Givler-Viers’ paychecks stopped in the spring. She recalled being “just too sad” to get out of bed on the first day of the new school year and fleeing a Target store in the summer upon seeing back-to-school sales.
Conservative Board Majority Creates Adversarial District Culture
The conflict is set against a backdrop of political shifts within the district. In 2021, the Springs Opportunity Fund PAC directed $200,000 into El Paso County school board races via Colorado Springs Forward, and a group called Colorado Dawn contributed another $400,000 to District 11 races in 2023.
Under Superintendent Michael Gaal and a conservative board majority, the district focused on silencing educators, passing policies against LGBTQ+ students, and banning books. Brown characterized the district administration as “adversarial,” stating that it became a “very us versus them culture.”
Ongoing Disputes in District 11
Despite the reinstatement of Givler-Viers, tensions remain between the administration and staff. Union members and parents are advocating for the ability to teach about Black Americans, such as Frederick Douglass, and are protesting the removal of LGBTQ+ mentions from health textbooks.
In December 2024, the school board voted to terminate a 56-year-old master agreement with the Colorado Springs Education Association that had previously guaranteed teachers a voice in classroom decisions and planning time.
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