Sheridan School District Closes as Teachers Strike Over Contract Negotiations

Police called to school board meeting as teachers demand better working conditions and higher pay

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:05am

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Sheridan School District 2 in Arapahoe County, Colorado will close all five of its schools starting Wednesday as teachers go on strike over stalled contract negotiations with the district. The teachers' union, Sheridan Education Association, says they have been working without a contract for months with little response from the district to their demands for expanded union membership and reinstated long-expired teacher contracts.

Why it matters

The Sheridan teachers' strike highlights the ongoing tensions between educators and school districts over issues like teacher pay, benefits, and working conditions, which have intensified in many communities across the country. The closure of all Sheridan schools for the rest of the week will disrupt learning for students and create childcare challenges for families.

The details

As Sheridan educators left their classrooms on Tuesday, they were ready to picket in front of the closed schools. Union president Katie Biester said the district has not provided a substantive response to the union's contract proposals after months of negotiations. Teachers and parents are frustrated, with math teacher Esther Rocha-Garcia calling the strike a 'very difficult decision' after 8 months of struggles. The union has volunteers to help cover childcare during the school closure.

  • Sheridan School District 2 will close all five schools starting on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • The school closure is expected to last through Friday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Katie Biester

Sheridan High School social studies teacher, SOAR Academy teacher, and president of Sheridan Education Association.

Esther Rocha-Garcia

Math teacher at Sheridan High School and parent of an eighth grader and senior in Sheridan schools.

Christen Rogers De Reyes

Sheridan High School ELA and Spanish teacher, and Sheridan parent.

Dr. Gionni Thompson

Superintendent of Sheridan School District 2.

Sheridan Education Association

The teachers' union representing educators in Sheridan School District 2.

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What they’re saying

“We just walked out of our classes. We're on strike.”

— Katie Biester, Sheridan High School social studies teacher, SOAR Academy teacher, and president of Sheridan Education Association

“I think it's the right decision. It was a very difficult decision. We've been struggling with this for, I think, 8 months now, and we've tried to avoid it.”

— Esther Rocha-Garcia, Math teacher at Sheridan High School and parent of an eighth grader and senior in Sheridan schools

“In times like these, it's really important for us to stand together.”

— Katie Biester, Sheridan High School social studies teacher, SOAR Academy teacher, and president of Sheridan Education Association

What’s next

The Sheridan Education Association plans to continue picketing in front of the closed schools on Wednesday, pushing for a resolution to the contract dispute with the district. The superintendent has declined to comment further ahead of the strike, stating the district's focus is on serving students and families during the closure.

The takeaway

The Sheridan teachers' strike underscores the ongoing challenges facing educators and school districts across the country as they negotiate over issues like pay, benefits, and working conditions. The closure of all Sheridan schools will disrupt learning and create hardships for families, highlighting the need for both sides to find a compromise that addresses the concerns of teachers while minimizing the impact on students.