What Makes Me Stand Out As a Candidate?
Reform-Minded
“The success of our kids and community hinges on the success of our neighborhood schools” is my mantra. All kids deserve an opportunity to learn and succeed in Denver’s public schools.
Sometimes success requires a change in the way schools are designed. That may mean implementing a new curriculum based on a proven model, re-allocating staffing resources, or changing leadership.
I believe that many DPS schools would benefit from reform; I have seen firsthand the benefits of reform at schools such as Lake Middle School, Bryant Webster, and Brown International Academy. At these schools, successful reprogramming resulted when concerned community members, principals, and teachers came together toward a common vision.
DPS must offer a variety of educational approaches to fit the differing needs and learning styles of our city’s children. Whether the approach is Montessori, International Baccalaureate, Core Knowledge or other, DPS is responsible for preparing kids with the academic rigor they need to succeed, and after graduation from high school, go on to college, a technical or vocational school, or directly into the workforce. All kids must be prepared for success after high school and make a positive contribution to our community.
With three young children of our own, my wife and I have pledged to send our kids to neighborhood schools that claim reform as their victory ticket.
Experienced
Having grown up in a family of teachers, my roots are deeply planted in the education arena. My father taught for 20 years and retired as a superintendent. My mother is a school psychologist and special education director, and is responsible for the Reading First program. My sister teaches grades 3, 4 and 5 at a rural school in Wyoming. My early exposure to the importance of education is central to my belief that education is the key to all of life’s great opportunities.
For the past 10 years, I have been heavily involved with schools here in northwest Denver.
I began as a volunteer for Northwest Parents for Excellent Schools (NWPES), served on the advisory board for four years, and chaired the organization twice. At NWPES, I worked closely with DPS administrators to implement school revitalization efforts at three neighborhood schools: Brown International Academy, Remington Elementary and Skinner Middle School. I have also played an active role in reform efforts at Lake Middle School – facilitating my first meeting as chair of NWPES at Lake in 2003.
I was among the founding parents of Explore & Discover, a Reggio Emilia-based early learning childcare cooperative, where I helped shape the ideals and practices of a program that is thriving today.
In both my upbringing and in my community, my experiences have shaped my views and opinions on what good schools are made of. And numerous conversations with families have proven to me that all parents, teachers and the community want quality education for our children.
Action-Oriented
With a recipe for success that combines kids, teachers, parents, and the community, I believe that the success of neighborhood schools comes down to resources.
As a school board member, my plan is to help ensure that school resources stay where they belong: in DPS. Resource problems arise when families send their kids outside of DPS schools to other neighboring districts. That’s when DPS schools become under-enrolled, and the money allocated to would-be students goes with those kids to other districts.
My job will be to help keep DPS’s financial, human, and physical resources in tact so that our schools can offer the curriculum, the staff, and the principals they need in order to maintain healthy enrollment numbers and be successful.
My plan of attack is to:
- Instill academic rigor at all schools.
- Ensure that all kids who will be affected by school closures are properly accounted for in achievement-oriented schools.
- Support the Denver Plan with laser focus to ensure success for all kids.
- Regain the 22,000 kids who leave DPS for other school districts every year.
Like other parents I’ve heard from, I am committed to sending my kids to neighborhood schools, and I want equal educational opportunities for all kids. If elected, I will work with teachers, administrators and the community to make that happen.