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Our DPS kids -- we miss them! Most are back Aug. 22.
Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016
Welcoming a Familiar Face: New Associate Chief to Lead Equity Work
We are excited to welcome Allen Smith - a Denver native, DPS graduate (go, Patriots!) and former DPS principal (Barrett, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College) - back to Team DPS!
Allen Smith
Allen will rejoin DPS on Aug. 22 in the new role of Associate Chief of our Culture, Equity and Leadership Team (CELT). DPS is adding this position to elevate and expand our equity, culture and leadership work as we continue our efforts to make our district a more diverse and inclusive organization.
In this role, Allen will be responsible for the district's work addressing issues raised by our team members in the recent report prepared by Dr. Sharon Bailey. The report shared the experiences of African-American educators in our district.
"I'm glad to be back home and glad to be working with people I know in a district I really care about," Allen said. "I have a lot of roots in the district and I look forward to great things this school year."
Allen's last assignment in DPS was serving for three years as executive director of the Denver Summit Schools Network in Far Northeast Denver. He then joined Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina as a community superintendent, before heading to California to serve as Deputy Superintendent/Chief of Schools to Oakland Superintendent Antwan Wilson, also a former DPS principal and district leader.
In DPS, while leading several turnaround schools, Allen became known for developing leaders - all of his assistant principals are now either principals or instructional leaders.
"We're thrilled that Allen is rejoining us in DPS," Superintendent Tom Boasberg said. "We look forward to his leadership in continuing and expanding our diversity efforts, and in offering critical supports and mentoring for our next generation of leaders."
Reminder: Join Us in Team DPS Forums
Members of Team DPS are invited to come together and discuss the concerns raised by African-American educators in the recent report by Dr. Sharon Bailey, who interviewed more than 70 teachers, school leaders and school-support staff members. Dr. Bailey, a scholar, community leader and former Denver Board of Education member, will attend the sessions along with members of our Culture, Equity and Leadership Team. Details of the sessions:  
  • 4-6 p.m., Aug. 11, Thomas Jefferson High School - TONIGHT!
  • 5-7 p.m., Aug. 16, Bruce Randolph School
  • 5-7 p.m., Aug. 17, Lincoln High School
  • 4-6 p.m., Aug. 19, North High School
  • 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Aug. 29, Emily Griffith Campus
It's Election Time: Employee Do's and Don'ts
With the Denver Board of Education set to vote next week on placing a bond/mill proposal on the ballot (not to mention a pretty heated battle at the top of the ticket), we wanted to share the legal do's and don'ts of election activity for Team DPS members.
This reminder from our legal team answers questions such as:
  • Can I donate my own money or walk in support of a campaign/candidate I believe in, on my own time? Answer: Yes.
  • Can I collect money from colleagues at work in support of a campaign/candidate? Answer: No.
  • Can I print copies of a flier supporting a campaign/candidate on a school/district copy machine? Answer: No.
  • But what if I print the copies at work after hours? Answer: Still no. See school/district copy machine.
  • What if someone asks me questions about a campaign/candidate - can I answer if I'm at work? Answer: Yes, but it's complicated.
Read this two-page memo for the legal scoop. It includes contact info for the legal team if you need more information.

Save the Date: Back-to-School Volunteering Aug. 22
With back-to-school quickly approaching on Aug. 22 for most of our schools, we want to make sure the start of the 2016-17 school year is a memorable one for our kids - and we need your help! Stay tuned for more information in next Thursday's Team DPS Weekly about how you can get involved in welcoming back our students at schools on Aug. 22.
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