Dear Team DPS,
Last week, we announced plans to transition our central-support teams to a new organizational structure in order to maximize resources for our schools. Declining enrollment resulting in budgetary constraints, coupled with voices from central and school-based teams and voices from community members, have created the need to focus the number of initiatives we implement. And we’re committed to making thoughtful Central Office organizational changes and reductions. This is a difficult decision, and it is the right decision for our students; it allows us to become more effective at what we are charged with doing: helping every child succeed.
As was shared last week, each day we witness talented, kind, and compassionate team members caring for each other, our students, and our families. That dedication is the foundation for our move forward, and we value and appreciate it. Navigating change together is part of the growth of any team, and it makes us better and stronger. That is our focus right now. To support us in these changes, we are sharing additional information with you about what the upcoming months will hold.
Our transition to a new organizational structure to better support our students will occur in phases, which we understand is different from how central team members have experienced similar changes in previous years. Phase 1 is outlined below. Additional phases are not yet finalized and we will continue to share information as we make decisions about future phases. We expect the reorganization to be complete and the new positions to take effect no later than July 1.
Phase 1: Organizing to elevate and embed equity, support students and our community
What we have heard from our community and team members throughout my own phased transition into DPS, including my Listening and Learning Tour and the Transition Advisory Team’s development of 10 priority statements, has helped ground and reaffirm the vision for DPS to further embed equity in everything we do, and to be Community Led, District Supported. With that, the first phase of our transition will begin with our Superintendent’s Cabinet. As you review the new organizational structure, you will notice that our central team’s work will be organized into fewer lead offices in an effort to realize efficiencies, support responsive decision-making closest to those with the greatest expertise in the work, and support the Superintendent’s Cabinet on focusing on the most critical priorities across our district.
Next steps
Positions that are a part of the new Superintendent’s Cabinet will be posted the week of Feb. 14. We aim to create opportunities for interested candidates and be in alignment with Colorado’s Equal Pay For Equal Work Act. Roles will be posted for internal and external candidate consideration for two weeks.
Below is the anticipated timeline to select the Cabinet team:
- Week of Feb. 14: Positions posted
- Week of Feb. 28: Postings closed
- March 7-21: Interviews
- April 4-25: Selection process
In addition to getting our Superintendent’s Cabinet in place, there are several other positions that need to be in place so that those leaders have the opportunity to support department and team-level decision-making. Those decisions will be informed by the findings from the Transition Team Priority Statements and the Educational Resource Strategies’ (ERS) study. The Priority Statements and the study anchor the development of our strategic plan and are grounded in the same principles that drove the design of our Cabinet: Maximize resources at the school-level, embed equity in everything we do, and realize efficiencies in service of focus at the school-level.
To that end, the Deputy Superintendent of Schools and Chief of Schools roles will be prioritized in the hiring process to ensure that we support our schools and their school strategic planning during this time of transition.
Our phased approach will allow us to make the best decisions for our students and to remain aligned to our purpose and principles. We do not have all the information and decisions right now, but we will continue to share information regularly. We have heard many questions already, so we have prepared this FAQ and a summary of the key terms that are part of the new structure. As we continue down this path, we will update the FAQ with new information and additional questions.
We encourage you to lean into your teams and support each other through these changes. Maintaining our relationships and connections will help us navigate these changes together and acknowledge our own unique experiences. As we move to our new organizational structure for our central-support team, we think about our students in our classrooms right now. My greatest hope is that the decisions we make now not only prioritize but improve the opportunities for all of our students across Denver.
In collaboration,
Dr. Alex Marrero
Superintendent
