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Celebrating the DPS Family of Schools
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"There is more than one way to be a great school."
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Dear Team DPS,
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Associate Chief of Portfolio Management Jennifer Holladay |
Chances are, no matter which DPS school you are a part of -- whether as a student, family member, teacher, leader or support staff -- you believe that Denver can be a city where Every Child Succeeds. You believe in the life-changing power of public education. You care about developing lifelong learners who grow up to participate in a world full of opportunity. No matter which school you're a part of, you're a part of the
DPS family of schools
, and for that, I am very thankful.
- Are public schools that enroll students through the same DPS SchoolChoice process.
- Serve all students, including students learning English and students with disabilities.
- Are taxpayer-funded at the local, state and federal levels.
- Are held accountable to the same school performance standards, including the DPS School Performance Framework (SPF) and the Colorado state accountability clock.
- Are accountable to the Denver Board of Education.
While we hold these common beliefs, in DPS we know that there is more than one way for a school to be great. Although our schools share many common foundations, it's essential that we empower each school with flexibility, since they work closest with their students and know what's best for them academically, emotionally and socially. Within the family of schools, we welcome different types of school leadership and governance, curricula, instructional models, school-year calendars, professional learning opportunities and more.
As in most families, there have been both uplifting and challenging moments within the DPS family of schools. Our schools have different views on many aspects of how to provide a high-quality education to students -- but at the end of the day, that diversity of ideas and approaches is both a strength and an opportunity to put Students First.
I'm grateful for each of you and the
diverse ways
our family of schools serves all Denver kids. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.
Be well,
Jennifer Holladay
Associate Chief, Portfolio Management
Pictured above: Students from KIPP Northeast Elementary, a charter school in the Family of Schools.
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Have you ever heard of Oobleck? It's a creation of none other than Dr. Seuss, who wrote of the "gooey green substance" in a 1949 book.
Oobleck has recently taken on new life in science classrooms across the country, including one at REACH Charter School where third- and fourth-grade students created the part-liquid, part-solid creation with cornstarch and water.
Watch our latest episode of ¡Somos DPS!, then nominate your school for the next episode by emailing
Ben McKee.
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Hundreds of JROTC Cadets March in Veterans Day Parade
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As a way of giving thanks to veterans for all they have done for our country, 929 students in 10 DPS JROTC programs participated in Denver's annual Veterans Day Parade.
Denver JROTC Deputy DAI Kevin Black interviewed several DPS high school students who marched in the parade to learn why they believe recognizing veterans is important.
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DPS' Educators Honored at Excellence in Teaching
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Teachers from across the district were honored at the Excellence in Teaching event on Wednesday.
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On Wednesday, DPS celebrated nearly 1,200 of our educators for their high performance in the classroom and with our kids during the Excellence in Teaching event. The annual event -- held at the Punch Bowl Social and made possible thanks to the
DPS Foundation -- recognizes teachers and specialized service providers who received a Distinguished or top rating in their growth and performance for the 2017-18 school year. All of our Distinguished educators were invited, along with a guest, to be celebrated, thanked and recognized for their excellence in the classroom.
The number of Distinguished educators is continuing to increase every year in DPS, which means more of our kids have a top educator supporting them. One of the most important ways we help our students learn and grow, and achieve their own greatness, is to make sure they have a great teacher in every classroom. To help our educators grow professionally, we know that recognizing and honoring their efforts go hand-in-hand with coaching and supports.
Congratulations to all of our Distinguished teachers and top specialized service providers!
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Congratulations to DPS' Shontel Lewis, Elected to RTD Board
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Associate Director of Community Engagement Strategy and Advocacy Shontel Lewis |
Shontel Lewis, a leader on the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team, has been elected to the Board of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) for District B. Shontel campaigned on a commitment to prioritize people over process, to make transit affordable and available and to bring RTD closer to the communities it serves.
Shontel grew up in Five Points and graduated from
Manual High School. She is now the Associate Director of Community Engagement Strategy and Advocacy for DPS.
"I want to ensure that all constituents are heard and seen as true partners whose livelihood is dependent on the success of public transportation in our district," Shontel said. "For over 14 years, I have worked across disciplines including public transportation, public education, economic development and youth leadership through agencies and community organizations. These sectors often overlap, but each are siloed and miss opportunities for collaboration."
At DPS, we understand the importance of a good partnership with RTD and how critical public transit is to meet our students' transportation needs. Congratulations to Shontel!
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