Mission
It takes three:
Children + Parents + Teachers = Great Education
There is no “one most important thing” to quality education. The winning combination includes kids, parents and teachers. It is my responsibility as a school board member to help ensure that DPS is accountable to all three.
DPS must provide excellent schools that:
- Prepare each child for success after graduating from DPS, whether the child decides to enter the work force or continue their education at the college or university level.
- Better educate the children currently in DPS classrooms.
- Encourage parents and students to stay in DPS. If families have “choiced out” of DPS, encourage them to come back to their neighborhood schools.
What Denver Families Want
Conversations with parents in the northwest Denver community revealed the following themes and issue statements as being important to education concerns throughout DPS. DPS must:
Create a culture of learning.
A culture of learning requires strengthening communication and relationships between administrators, teachers, parents and the community. All parents, no matter their own educational, socioeconomic or other background, value a good education for their children. By giving them a voice to help impact the direction of our schools, and by involving front-line teachers and staff at all levels of decision-making, our schools will become the product of a community-wide concern for quality education.
Provide a safe learning environment.
The safety and security of our schools is the first step in academic achievement. We must make every effort to create a safe learning environment for all children.
Support teachers and encourage innovative teaching.
Teaching is a demanding enterprise that requires continuing development to be successful. We should ensure teachers have access to the resources and training to further their professional skills. DPS should start by supporting teachers in the school to eliminate and prevent any sense of isolation. Furthermore, DPS should adopt best practices for encouraging collaborative learning communities in the district and in the schools.
Offer a well balanced curriculum including visual art, music, math, science, social studies and second language study.
Research has proven that curriculum that includes the arts aids achievement and student graduation rates. Rigor in all academic pursuits must be emphasized, along with the ability to become fluent in a second language.
Build on the cultural diversity of our neighborhoods.
The strength of our schools reflects the strength of communities. The socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural diversity of North and West Denver can power academic achievement and give students and families due respect for their place in an increasingly diverse global environment. Every student should have a welcoming place in public schools.
Support families by offering early childhood education, and before- and after-school programs.
Education must begin early. Every Denver first grader should begin school ready and able to learn. Full-day, tuition-free kindergarten, and access to Denver's Early Childhood Education program, should not be limited to the economically privileged. Before- and after-school should be available for educational enrichment and tutoring, building upon the foundations laid during the school day.
Verify fiscal accountability and confirm that DPS is getting fair per pupil operating revenue (PPoR).
DPS must spend its dollars very carefully to get academic achievement and guarantee taxpayers fair value for their financial contributions to public education. Since school finance is complex, we must guarantee that DPS receives its fair share of state and federal assistance.
Increase high school graduation rates.
Every dropout represents a lost investment to DPS, the community and society as whole. Graduation must be a meaningful and reachable achievement. Higher graduation rates will have long-term impacts on Denver’s economic climate and per capita income. Supported students can and will succeed
Market schools to communities.
Schools can and should rely on parent involvement and their own communities to market public education and specific school programs. Collaborations between parents, staff and administrators (through parent-teacher organizations, collaborative school committees, etc.) can become powerful, successful marketing tools to help gain momentum and support for a school’s mission and vision.