Dear Team DPS,
I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate the three new Denver Board of Education Members who were elected to four-year terms on Tuesday. There were a total of nine candidates running for the three seats on the Board, and I think it’s a testament to our community’s commitment to public education that we had such strong interest in these critically important, unpaid, public-service positions.
The new board members and the areas they were elected to represent are: Tay Anderson: At-Large Board Member, representing the entire city; Scott Baldermann: District 1, representing Southeast Denver; and Brad Laurvick: District 5, representing Northwest Denver.
I’m very much looking forward to working with the new board members and collaborating with the full Board of Education and our community on making equity a reality in the Denver Public Schools by providing the best service we can to all of our families. I believe there’s a shared commitment among our full Board of Education and district leadership to strengthen teacher collaboration so we can all do more and do it faster for the kids who are furthest behind. That’s a powerful mission to rally around, and I’m eager to get to work with our new Board.
In election campaigns and political discussions, there tends to be a focus on differences. But when it’s actually time to sit down and do the work, I find there’s so much more that connects us. That’s not to say there won’t be times when we have different perspectives on an issue -- we will. And that’s when it is most important to focus on strong, genuine collaboration -- having an honest, productive exchange of ideas and perspectives that helps us share the best thinking and reach the best decision we can for our community and our kids.
Our three new Board members are expected to be sworn in on Dec. 4 and will begin their terms with the December board meetings. Click
here
to learn more about the Board, including 2019-20 Board meeting dates, guidelines for providing comments and feedback to the Board, and information on how to watch meetings online.
I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to our Board Members who are finishing up their terms this month: Board President Anne Rowe, who served two terms representing District 1 and four years serving as Board Chair; At-Large Board Member Happy Haynes, who also served two terms and two years as Board Chair; and District 5 Board Member and Board Treasurer Lisa Flores. Each of these civic leaders has put so much of themselves into leading our school district and caring for and educating the children of Denver. I will be forever grateful for their thoughtful leadership.
Our city is so strong because of the dedication of the people who choose public service. We welcome everyone in our city to get involved and collaborate to strengthen our schools.
Warm regards,
Susana
