The Mesa Valley Education Association, the Mesa County Valley School District 51 teachers’ union, invested heavily in the 2025 Board of Education elections — and saw a return on its investments in a big way.

The MVEA not only endorsed former D51 principal Vicki Woods, former D51 teacher Kaci Cole and military veteran Mike Rathbone in their respective campaigns; the union also contributed $5,000 to each of their campaigns to bolster their visibility in the community.

On election night Tuesday, many members of the association packed Cruise Control Kitchen and Cellar to watch the results, then celebrate when the numbers they were hoping for came across.

Cole expressed her gratitude to the MVEA for its support as crucial to her chances.

“Teachers really are the backbone of our education sy

See Full Page