Denver Public Schools, Colorado, elections (2021)

Elections in Colorado, 2021

* Election date: 11/2/2021
* Primary type: Nonpartisan
* Registration deadline(s): 10/25/2021 to receive ballot in the mail; Nov. 2 otherwise[1]
* Online registration: Yes
* Same-day registration: Yes

* Early voting: Oct. 18-Nov. 1 (click here for locations and hours)
* Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 2[2]
* Voter ID: Non-photo ID (in-person voting or first-time mail voting)[3]
* Poll times: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

* * *

Also on the ballot in Colorado in 2021: State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Recalls

* Related content:
* Colorado
* Denver Public Schools, Colorado
* Colorado school board elections, 2021
* Colorado elections, 2021
* Public policy in Colorado
* Influencers in Colorado
* Fact checks in Colorado
* Local elections
* Municipal governments
* Local courts
* School boards
* Local ballot measures
* Recalls
* State elections
* State executives
* State legislatures
* State courts
* State ballot measures
* Federal elections

<- 2019

Denver Public Schools elections

* * *

General election date
November 2, 2021
Enrollment ('17-'18)
91,820 students

Thirteen candidates ran for four seats on the Denver Public Schools school board in Colorado in the nonpartisan general election on November 2, 2021. The filing deadline for this election was August 27, 2021.

Here are the winners for each seat:

* Scott Esserman defeated Marla Benavides, Vernon Jones Jr., Jane Shirley, and Nicky Yollick for the at-large seat.
* Xochitl Gaytan defeated Karolina Villagrana for District 2.
* District 3 featured the only race with an incumbent. Board president Carrie Olson defeated former principal Mike DeGuire.
* Michelle Quattlebaum defeated Gene Fashaw, Andrea Mosby Jones, and Jose Silva for District 4.

According to Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering education, "Though a majority of the seven board seats are up for grabs, the election is unlikely to shift the balance of power away from members backed by the teachers union." Union-backed candidates held a 5-2 majority on the board heading into the election. After the election, all seven board members were union-backed candidates.[4]

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association endorsed Olson, Gaytan, Quattlebaum, and Esserman.[5]

In September 2021, the school board changed its conflict of interest policy to prohibit employees of independent charter schools and semi-autonomous innovation zones in the district from serving on the board. Previously, only district employees had been barred. Four candidates—Fashaw, Jones, Quattlebaum, and Villagrana—were affiliated with the school district in the 2020-21 school year. While this policy did not require candidates to find other employment, unless elected, Fashaw and Villagrana resigned from their positions. Serving on the school board is an unpaid volunteer position.[6]

Key issues for the school district included school consolidation and closures for schools with low enrollment, education outcomes for Black students, school safety, coronavirus relief money, and reviews of autonomous charter and innovation schools.[4]

This election is a battleground race. Other 2021 battlegrounds include:

* Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District special election, 2021
* Mayoral election in Arlington, Texas (2021)
* Mayoral election in Cincinnati, Ohio (2021)

|

## Contents

* 1 Elections
* 2 Candidates and results
* 2.1 At-large
* 2.2 District 2
* 2.3 District 3
* 2.4 District 4
* 3 Additional elections on the ballot
* 3.1 Candidate profiles
* 3.2 Candidate interviews
* 3.2.1 Chalkbeat
* 3.2.1.1 At-large candidates
* 3.2.1.2 District 2 candidates
* 3.2.1.3 District 3 candidates
* 3.2.1.4 District 4 candidates
* 3.3 Campaign themes
* 3.3.1 Marla Benavides
* 3.3.2 Mike DeGuire
* 3.3.2.1 Campaign website
* 3.3.3 Scott Esserman
* 3.3.3.1 Campaign website
* 3.3.4 Gene Fashaw
* 3.3.5 Xochitl Gaytan
* 3.3.5.1 Campaign website
* 3.3.6 Vernon Jones Jr.
* 3.3.7 Andrea Mosby Jones
* 3.3.8 Carrie Olson
* 3.3.9 Michelle Quattlebaum
* 3.3.10 Jane Shirley
* 3.3.10.1 Campaign website
* 3.3.11 Jose Silva
* 3.3.12 Karolina Villagrana
* 3.3.13 Nicky Yollick
* 3.3.13.1 Campaign website
* 3.4 What was at stake?
* 3.4.1 Report a story for this election
* 3.4.2 Candidate survey
* 3.5 About the district
* 3.6 See also
* 3.7 External links
* 3.8 Footnotes

## Elections[edit]

Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.

# Candidates and results[edit]

### At-large[edit]

General election

##### General election for Denver Board of Education At-large

Scott Esserman defeated Vernon Jones Jr., Jane Shirley, Marla Benavides, and Nicky Yollick in the general election for Denver Board of Education At-large on November 2, 2021.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Scott Esserman (Nonpartisan) |

40.1

| 54,663

| Vernon Jones Jr. (Nonpartisan)  |

23.5

| 32,081

| Jane Shirley (Nonpartisan) |

15.8

| 21,589

| Marla Benavides (Nonpartisan)  |

14.7

| 20,066

| Nicky Yollick (Nonpartisan) |

5.8

| 7,896

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. Source

| Total votes: 136,295

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Jorge Hernandez (Nonpartisan)

### District 2[edit]

General election

##### General election for Denver Board of Education District 2

Xochitl Gaytan defeated Karolina Villagrana in the general election for Denver Board of Education District 2 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Xochitl Gaytan (Nonpartisan) |

53.2

| 9,100

| Karolina Villagrana (Nonpartisan)  |

46.8

| 8,009

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. Source

| Total votes: 17,109

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

### District 3[edit]

General election

##### General election for Denver Board of Education District 3

Incumbent Carrie Olson defeated Mike DeGuire in the general election for Denver Board of Education District 3 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Carrie Olson (Nonpartisan) |

69.7

| 22,146

| Mike DeGuire (Nonpartisan) |

30.3

| 9,623

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source

| Total votes: 31,769

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

### District 4[edit]

General election

##### General election for Denver Board of Education District 4

Michelle Quattlebaum defeated Gene Fashaw, Jose Silva, and Andrea Mosby Jones (Unofficially withdrew) in the general election for Denver Board of Education District 4 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Michelle Quattlebaum (Nonpartisan)  |

43.3

| 10,903

| Gene Fashaw (Nonpartisan)  |

41.5

| 10,449

| Jose Silva (Nonpartisan)  |

15.1

| 3,803

| Andrea Mosby Jones (Nonpartisan) (Unofficially withdrew) |

| 0

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. Source

| Total votes: 25,155

|
|

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

# Additional elections on the ballot[edit]

See also: Colorado elections, 2021

What's on your ballot?

Click here to find out using My Vote

## Candidate profiles[edit]

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[7] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Mike DeGuire

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "My name is Dr. Mike DeGuire, and I am running in district 3 to serve on the Denver School Board. I want to bring my skills and experiences as a teacher, a district reading coordinator, elementary and middle school principal, executive coach, and a realtor to the decision-making and vision-setting work necessary to guide the superintendent to improve learning outcomes for all DPS students. The greatest challenge students face is being able to engage in meaningful, rigorous, relevant, learning experiences that enable them to learn how to think critically and to develop positive mindsets for their future in society. I am ready to address that challenge to improve learning and well-being for students. I am also ready to use my skills and learned experience to improve work conditions for all staff, and to increase meaningful opportunities for the community to have a consistent voice in the educational vision for the future. As the father of a daughter who works as a counselor in DPS, and as someone who has been coaching DPS principals and leaders for the past nine years, I understand the urgent needs of students, teachers, and all district staff. We need new leadership on the Board to restore our trust in DPS and to focus on the real challenges facing our students today. "

* * *

Key Messages

The messages below are the candidate’s own.

* * *

Students are more than test scores. They must be afforded consistent opportunities to participate in the arts, and increased exposure to the trades through project based learning, internships, apprenticeships, and more involvement in extra-curriculars. For students to be prepared for the future, they need more experiences in learning life skills and developing the mindsets to to think critically, problem solve, and develop empathy though collaboration with others. Standardized tests should not be the primary determinant of student achievement or school quality. More focus on formative ongoing assessments will help students learn through engaging , relevant learning experiences.

* * *

We need new experienced leadership to address the real challenges facing students today. The current board has not demonstrated the ability to adequately address the full range of student needs, nor to ensure that all students are on a path to achieve to their fullest potential. In addition, the funding for local schools has been woefully inadequate and inequitable for students in many areas of the district.

* * *

Teachers and all staff need to honored for their professionalism and given the necessary time and supports to uncover each child's individual skills, interests, and passions. The current evaluation systems are based on a deficit model rather than an asset-based model and they need to be reexamined and revised. Teachers need additional supports to address the mental and social-emotional needs of students today.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Denver Board of Education District 3 in 2021

Scott Esserman

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "An educator for over 20 years, I have worked from ECE to High School, private and public, teaching core and elective curricula. Throughout my career, I have connected with students beyond the classroom, including coaching soccer, basketball, field hockey, and founding a nationally-recognized speech and debate program at Kent Denver School. I went on to coach dozens of state champions in forensics during the 12 years I was at Cherry Creek High School. I played an instrumental role in the founding of Northfield High School, both writing the innovation plan and serving on the founding faculty. ​ I have centered relationships, teamwork, and fundamental skill-building in all of my work. Recognized for honoring students’ lived experience, I have prioritized culturally relevant curricula everywhere I taught. I received my B.S. in History from the University of Missouri, emphasizing African American Studies, and a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University. My wife and I are the proud parents of two DPS children. Our daughter is a graduate of Manual High School and our son is a student at DSST Montview Middle School. "

* * *

Key Messages

The messages below are the candidate’s own.

* * *

Community Schools. Through my experience assisting Denver Discovery School faculty and families reimagining what had been labeled a failing school into a Community School, I gained new, unique and invaluable knowledge of the benefits and challenges of implementing the Community School model. The Community School design is one of the most effective models of education for the whole child. The National Education Association guides the six pillars of a community school, which are: strong and proven culturally relevant curriculum, high-quality teaching and learning, inclusive leadership, restorative, positive behavior practices, family and community partnerships and coordinate and integrated wraparound support.

* * *

Students First. We have an obligation to fulfill the promise of public education to ensure that every child is prepared for their next steps in life after high school graduation whether that be college, career, or professional apprenticeship. My work is focused on empowering all children to explore their strengths in a healthy environment. Putting students first means all students addressing the needs of those we continue to predictably fail. I am committed to working in a co-governance model with our leaders including students, parents, educators, and elected officials to establish authentic community engagement around kids’ best interest.

* * *

Covid recovery. The safety of our students, staff, and families is paramount. I support our medical professionals and plan to follow the recommendations of the experts at the American Pediatric Association and the CDC as well as local health officials. I recognize the outsized impact the pandemic has had on our BIPOC communities, and that is one reason why I support the recommendations for all community members to wear masks in schools. This year in DPS vaccine and mask mandates have kept our students in school.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Denver Board of Education At-large in 2021

Xochitl Gaytan

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "I am Mexican-born and now a proud naturalized U.S. Citizen-- I lived the experience of being an undocumented child within DPS schools. My husband and I are products of Denver Public Schools ( DPS ), graduating from Lincoln High School in Southwest Denver. After earning my B.S. in Business Management from MSU Denver, I now work in real estate where I have been representing working families in Southwest Denver for the past 19 years. Harvey Park is the community I have chosen to live, work and raise my family in. Like many of you, having the right to a quality school was one of the top reasons we chose the neighborhood and house we live in now. Denver families still want to move into a safe, strong neighborhood where they can count on a quality school. Buying a home and choosing a neighborhood are important life decisions and having a quality school has always been a key factor in those decisions. Strong schools have also been a foundation to build and maintain stronger communities. Whether you have kids in school today or not, every family in Denver deserves the opportunity for an excellent, equitable education opportunity within their neighborhood. Making sure your tax dollars are reaching the classroom will be a top priority for me as your Board Director. The integrity of our communities depends on strong schools."

* * *

Key Messages

The messages below are the candidate’s own.

* * *

Re-allocate funds to classrooms: Maximize your tax dollars where it matters most

* * *

Support our teachers, paras, and nutrition service workers: Support school staff's rights for a better work environment, creating a healthier learning environment for all students.

* * *

Prioritize student well-being: Prioritize smaller class sizes, increase culturally relevant curricula, increase arts/music/sports/civic education.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Denver Board of Education District 2 in 2021

Jane Shirley

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "I've spent most of my career working at the intersection of education, business and the arts. As a career educator, I’ve taught across all grade levels, worked in the central office, and served as a high school principal. After retiring from Aurora Public Schools, I developed a program for principals and district leaders focused on leadership for transformational change. I'm currently working as a consultant and executive coach for education leaders and entrepreneurs. Along with my work in education, my husband Dave and I own Rattlebrain Productions, a company that creates and produces original comedy. Our son Drew often gets roped into helping out with video shoots or running tech, making it a full family affair. Together, we’re in the business of making people laugh and we take that very, very seriously. I have a talent for connecting seemingly unrelated dots, creating order out of chaos, and putting together powerhouse teams. I lead with honesty, fairness, and humor. I build organizations that are respectful and open, and I care deeply about the health and well-being of our school communities. I hope to bring my knowledge, skills, and belief in what’s possible to support the future success of Denver Public Schools. "

* * *

Key Messages

The messages below are the candidate’s own.

* * *

A key responsibility of the board is to oversee the work of the superintendent and evaluate his performance. I am an experienced school and district leader and I’ve also served as a COO and CEO in a non-profit organization. I will use my organizational and leadership development expertise to help build and sustain a strong and trusting relationship between the board and the superintendent, provide effective feedback, and evaluate performance.

* * *

I have a proven track record of results in leading transformational change. I will bring those skills to oversee a strategic planning process that harnesses the creative capacity of our entire community. With a strong plan in place, we will more effectively utilize resources, eliminate waste, and empower our educators to implement actions that improve student performance in all our schools.

* * *

Over the past few years, the board has struggled to effectively engage the community in important decisions. I will bring strong planning and facilitation skills along with my experience in community engagement to help the board create effective processes for input and participation. This will require us to go beyond surveys and committees. It will require us to listen to all voices and perspectives through processes that build and maintain trust.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Denver Board of Education At-large in 2021

Nicky Yollick

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "Nicky grew up in the Houston Area, where he took to community organizing from a young age. As a Senior in High School, Nicky successfully lobbied his school’s administration to enable students to organize a school-wide debate on various social issues of the day. Nicky got his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Tulane University before moving to Denver in 2008 to study International Relations at the University of Denver.In 2018, Nicky wrote a resolution for the Denver Democratic Party’s platform seeking to reverse the ongoing privatization of public education, instead focusing resources on student equity and supporting educators. Alongside a coalition of community leaders, he lobbied Denver Democrats to overwhelmingly pass the resolution, clearing a path for Denverites to elect a slate of pro-education candidates in 2019's Denver Public School Board elections.Over the last several years, Nicky has founded several organizations geared toward building community-leadership for student equity and neighborhood schools in DPS.Nicky lives in the East Colfax neighborhood of Denver with his partner, Nicki Nanton, their dog, Julep, two cats, Gonzo and Libby, and two little corn snakes, Fettucine and Campanelli. Nicki is a hospice social worker and is getting ready to start her nursing degree. "

* * *

Key Messages

The messages below are the candidate’s own.

* * *

Classroom Equity - A strong, equitable education for all children in DPS is the essential goal of having a School District.

* * *

Community Leadership - An informed, active community will lead the decision-making process in finding dynamic solutions to student inequity.

* * *

Radical Transparency - For community to take the lead, it must be informed of exactly how taxpayer money is being used in administration of education.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Denver Board of Education At-large in 2021

## Candidate interviews[edit]

This section compiles links to profiles and interviews of candidates conducted by local media. It was last updated on October 20, 2021.

### Chalkbeat[edit]

#### At-large candidates[edit]

* Marla Benavides
* Scott Esserman
* Vernon Jones Jr.
* Jane Shirley
* Nicky Yollick

#### District 2 candidates[edit]

* Xochitl Gaytan
* Karolina Villagrana

#### District 3 candidates[edit]

* Mike DeGuire
* Carrie Olson

#### District 4 candidates[edit]

* Gene Fashaw
* Michelle Quattlebaum
* Jose Silva

## Campaign themes[edit]

### Marla Benavides[edit]

Benavides' campaign website stated the following:

“  |

Hi there!

Let me introduce myself. I’m a homeschool mom who decided to run for this small but critical position because I felt concerned about what DPS is doing for my tax dollars.

See, I homeschool, but my tax dollars don’t follow my child because I homeschool, and the school doesn’t want to reimburse me for picking a different option. What’s concerning about the DPS school district is that 85% of the students graduate unable to read at the most basic level.

Let me repeat that.

85% of the students at DPS graduate unable to read at the most basic level

Literacy matters if you want every child to have equal opportunity.

What is DPS doing about this? The Denver plan is Equity. What is Equity? Denver wants to level the playing field for disadvantaged kids. Who are the underprivileged kids? Nearly all students at DPS are at a disadvantage because they can’t read well enough to have equal opportunity. So, what is their plan? They plan to elevate the disadvantaged students to the level of the students who can read and pull the students who can read down to the level of the underprivileged students. They want to take away someone’s opportunity and give it to someone else who may not deserve it because they haven’t worked for it.

Furthermore, DPS just received $2.8 billion in federal rescue money. They plan to reimagine education in the next four years. As a homeschool mom, I know how to teach my child to read. This reimaging education is straight from the World Economic Forum, which is the Great Economic Reset. They are reimaging education to fit the New World Order. It’s American Marxism.

I moved out here from Florida in 1994 when Denver was a sleepy, calm, cowboy town. When I moved, I had $500 in my pocket and no prospects of going to college. Little did I know that I had a massive gap in my literacy skills. I graduated from high school and was one of those kids who graduated unable to read, write, and do basic math at the most basic levels. It was hard to find, keep, and stay employed. However, I did find employment every time because I had an upbeat personality. But I didn’t know anything and couldn’t solve problems.

In those days, my goal was to enroll at the local college and improve my literacy skills. I didn’t know what my talents and abilities were back then, so I had no clue what major to pick. I did love law enforcement and research. In order to preserve our freedom, we need leadership that makes literacy a priority.

Currently, 38% of students read proficiently by fourth grade. That means most students are not reading proficiently and need to have phonics taught to them. Phonics is not being taught at DPS up to fifth grade, and they are teaching sight words with some phonics.

My humble request is that you please support me today, along with joining my Mom’s for Liberty group on Facebook. It is up to every parent to work together to improve DPS students’ chances for a successful life. The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines and let the government-controlled school system educate your kids. We need real reform.

If elected, I will push for:

* Decentralize schools from the state and federal government
* Decentralize schools from the district
* The principal should run each school
* Make the Superintendent electable by the people
* Move money away from the administration and back to the schools
* Let each school hire their staff and teachers
* Get families tax credits so they can pick the right school for their children

I believe in Denver, and I know you do too.[8]

|  ”

|
|

—Marla for School Board[9]

### Mike DeGuire[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mike DeGuire completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by DeGuire's responses.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Dr. Mike DeGuire, and I am running in district 3 to serve on the Denver School Board. I want to bring my skills and experiences as a teacher, a district reading coordinator, elementary and middle school principal, executive coach, and a realtor to the decision-making and vision-setting work necessary to guide the superintendent to improve learning outcomes for all DPS students. The greatest challenge students face is being able to engage in meaningful, rigorous, relevant, learning experiences that enable them to learn how to think critically and to develop positive mindsets for their future in society. I am ready to address that challenge to improve learning and well-being for students. I am also ready to use my skills and learned experience to improve work conditions for all staff, and to increase meaningful opportunities for the community to have a consistent voice in the educational vision for the future. As the father of a daughter who works as a counselor in DPS, and as someone who has been coaching DPS principals and leaders for the past nine years, I understand the urgent needs of students, teachers, and all district staff. We need new leadership on the Board to restore our trust in DPS and to focus on the real challenges facing our students today.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

* Students are more than test scores. They must be afforded consistent opportunities to participate in the arts, and increased exposure to the trades through project based learning, internships, apprenticeships, and more involvement in extra-curriculars. For students to be prepared for the future, they need more experiences in learning life skills and developing the mindsets to to think critically, problem solve, and develop empathy though collaboration with others. Standardized tests should not be the primary determinant of student achievement or school quality. More focus on formative ongoing assessments will help students learn through engaging , relevant learning experiences.
* We need new experienced leadership to address the real challenges facing students today. The current board has not demonstrated the ability to adequately address the full range of student needs, nor to ensure that all students are on a path to achieve to their fullest potential. In addition, the funding for local schools has been woefully inadequate and inequitable for students in many areas of the district.
* Teachers and all staff need to honored for their professionalism and given the necessary time and supports to uncover each child's individual skills, interests, and passions. The current evaluation systems are based on a deficit model rather than an asset-based model and they need to be reexamined and revised. Teachers need additional supports to address the mental and social-emotional needs of students today.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

In terms of public policy, I am especially passionate about our current inadequate system of measuring student achievement and school quality. I look forward to the findings that will be forthcoming from the legislative audit of the Colorado State performance framework which was recently approved by the legislature this past June. Like so many superintendents, school board members, and legislators across the state, I'm hopeful that we will determine newer, fairer, more meaningful, and supportive systems for accountability and accreditation to honor the work of so many educators and community members. The current emphasis on standardized testing as the primary measure of student achievement and school quality is no longer justifiable based both on newer research and the need for equity for all students. I am also committed to guaranteeing opportunities for all students to experience the arts, the trades, and to engage in relevant learning experiences that will tap into their interests and strengths. DPS needs to offer students systematic exposure to work opportunities through internships, apprenticeships, and project-based learning to develop students' critical thinking, creativity, and complex problem-solving skills in addition to learning academics. In DPS, we need to reexamine the current budgeting policies based on student enrollment and consider alternative ways to support the programming and resource needs of every school no matter their school size.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

To be effective as an elected official, I believe that I must be approachable, a team player, a critical thinker, a good listener, and a coalition builder. I need to have the confidence and ability to be clear and transparent in all my decisions. It is important that I am prepared and willing to learn what is necessary to understand the issues which are relevant to my work as a Board member. I need to be trusted to keep some discussions confidential that are required regarding personnel or legal issues. I also need to keep an open mind to all sides of an issue, and make clear why my final decisions are deemed the best for all the students or staff when making my positions known.

What legacy would you like to leave?

To know that I could be a part of systemic changes in how we are delivering, measuring, and funding education would be a legacy to be proud of in my life. Having been a lifelong educator, as a teacher, principal, reading coordinator, and executive coach, I'm keenly aware of the urgency to change many aspects of our educational system. I also know that change takes time, requires significant planning, and the involvement of many disparate voices. I am ready for this challenge, and our students’ future is at stake. The time is now to address the full range of our students’ needs and to ensure they can reach their full potential. There is new research on how children learn, new knowledge about students’ mental and social emotional needs, and new information on the skills and mindsets students need to thrive in our fast-changing technological world. I would be honored to be part of the work necessary to address these critical challenges. It would be fulfilling for me as a citizen to know that I could contribute to policies that help all students experience increased achievement and a heightened sense of well-being in all aspects of their learning and overall personal development.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I began working at a local department store selling men's clothing, while I was a senior in high school at the age of 16. I worked at that store during most of my college years to help pay for my college costs while attending Spring Hill College in my home town of Mobile, AL. This experience helped me appreciate the value of hard work and to understand that working to achieve your goals is both rewarding and fulfilling.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Who Do We Choose to Be: Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity by Margaret Wheatley. This book is a thoughtful, philosophical explanation of how our world has evolved up to recent times. I learned that we can be part of the solution to improving the lives of each other. Only with courage and the will to question the status quo will we be able to change the current trajectory towards a loss of our democratic ideals. The author is both an inspiration and a prophet in her description of how past events have coalesced to create the current crises we confront today. She reminds us that there are ways to to slow down the technological, self-centered era we have entered. Most importantly, she give us both reason and purpose to restore the human spirit which we need both to survive and to thrive.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The primary job of a board member is to work with colleagues to define the vision and educational goals for the district and to ensure that the Superintendent establishes strategies and systems to fulfill these goals. In doing so, the school board needs to incorporate the values and needs of the community while also looking ahead to the future needs of its students. The board must oversee the school district budget and adopt policies to provide for systemic review and evaluation of all aspects of the district's programs. As a board member, I need to advocate on behalf of students, all school employees, and represent the voices in the community.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

We need to rethink how we are allocating essential resources to local schools. In addition, we need to analyze current central and supervisory funding to verify that all support services are designed to legitimately support the needs of the local school. Student-based budgeting is not working today to meet the increased demands and needs of our students and staff. There are also number of grants and outside sources of money that the district receives every year. There needs to be increased oversight as to the disbursement and purpose of these resources as they relate to the overall budget itself. How these decisions are made on which schools receive additional resources and for what purposes needs to be more transparent. All additional outside money that becomes available to some schools should be documented and guidelines on their use established by the district. The opportunity for economies of scale in DPS are significant, yet they have not been employed judiciously nor with oversight as we continue to function as if we are a district of individual schools instead of one school district. In addition to our current system of allocating the $1.2 billion in resources, we need to build districtwide awareness of the fiscal crisis we face in our local schools, and then communicate the dire need for increased funding at the state level. Some schools have been able to supplement their school funding to make up for their gaps in resources, yet that is becoming harder to do each year with the greater needs that exist. There is great potential in communicating collectively for changes in state funding.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?

Parental involvement is an essential component of decision-making and communication in establishing and implementing board policies. I would participate in local parent meetings related to board policy and I would be available to work with parent groups whenever possible. I would establish a process for parents and collaborative school committee members to bring their ideas forward in a systematic manner through the establishment of regional parent councils. The CSC’s in each school can be a driver for gaining input and communicating common needs to the board directly. The present structure is one that fosters isolated conversations about individual school needs. I would establish a process for parents in different parts of the districts to visit schools and meet with other parent groups across the district in order to expand the understanding of the needs of the entire community. There are budget and resource issues facing small schools today in all areas of the district, and it is critical that we create processes for increased learning and collaboration across all schools about the needs and goals of each school community. For too long, the district has been divided into silos. However, there is great benefit in working together to effect the necessary changes in budget allocations, program offerings, and resource supports for all schools. In addition, cross school communication and awareness of various needs will help build a collective vison and commitment to improve the learning outcomes for all students across the district. It’s long last time to focus more on shared values and goals versus a “competitive” mindset. Our students need us to work together across all areas of the district to improve the life skills and learning outcomes for every student no matter where they live.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

#### Campaign website[edit]

DeGuire's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

Mike will work with the Board to define a clear vision of learning and well-being for all students, monitor student growth in every aspect of their development, and fully fund the local needs of each school. Mike will work with the Board to define a clear vision of learning and well-being for all students, monitor student growth in every aspect of their development, and fully fund the local needs of each school.

LEARNING AND WELL-BEING

“STUDENTS ARE MORE THAN TEST SCORES”

For students to thrive in the future, they need to learn life skills, complex problem solving, and citizenship, along with academics. Teachers need the time and the support to practice the ART of teaching along with the SCIENCE of teaching by using their professional know-how to unlock each student’s individual interests and passions.

EVERY SCHOOL CAN BE GREAT

“CELEBRATE THE STRENGTHS OF EACH SCHOOL”

Every school can offer a comprehensive, meaningful learning experience designed to help each student grow socially, emotionally, physically, and academically. Effective leadership, qualified, dedicated teachers and support staff, and involved families are the core ingredients to a caring, environment for students.

FAIR AND EQUITABLE RESOURCES

“PRIORITIZE TAX DOLLARS TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL”

Every school should have adequate resources for the arts, mental health and social-emotional supports, technology, extra-curriculars, and community outreach, in addition to academics. Central supports and outside services must be budgeted primarily to meet the individual school’s identified needs. School size should not limit a school's ability to provide high levels of school quality.[8]

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—Dr. Mike DeGuire[10]

### Scott Esserman[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Scott Esserman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Esserman's responses.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

An educator for over 20 years, I have worked from ECE to High School, private and public, teaching core and elective curricula. Throughout my career, I have connected with students beyond the classroom, including coaching soccer, basketball, field hockey, and founding a nationally-recognized speech and debate program at Kent Denver School. I went on to coach dozens of state champions in forensics during the 12 years I was at Cherry Creek High School. I played an instrumental role in the founding of Northfield High School, both writing the innovation plan and serving on the founding faculty. ​ I have centered relationships, teamwork, and fundamental skill-building in all of my work. Recognized for honoring students’ lived experience, I have prioritized culturally relevant curricula everywhere I taught. I received my B.S. in History from the University of Missouri, emphasizing African American Studies, and a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University. My wife and I are the proud parents of two DPS children. Our daughter is a graduate of Manual High School and our son is a student at DSST Montview Middle School.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

* Community Schools. Through my experience assisting Denver Discovery School faculty and families reimagining what had been labeled a failing school into a Community School, I gained new, unique and invaluable knowledge of the benefits and challenges of implementing the Community School model. The Community School design is one of the most effective models of education for the whole child. The National Education Association guides the six pillars of a community school, which are: strong and proven culturally relevant curriculum, high-quality teaching and learning, inclusive leadership, restorative, positive behavior practices, family and community partnerships and coordinate and integrated wraparound support.
* Students First. We have an obligation to fulfill the promise of public education to ensure that every child is prepared for their next steps in life after high school graduation whether that be college, career, or professional apprenticeship. My work is focused on empowering all children to explore their strengths in a healthy environment. Putting students first means all students addressing the needs of those we continue to predictably fail. I am committed to working in a co-governance model with our leaders including students, parents, educators, and elected officials to establish authentic community engagement around kids’ best interest.
* Covid recovery. The safety of our students, staff, and families is paramount. I support our medical professionals and plan to follow the recommendations of the experts at the American Pediatric Association and the CDC as well as local health officials. I recognize the outsized impact the pandemic has had on our BIPOC communities, and that is one reason why I support the recommendations for all community members to wear masks in schools. This year in DPS vaccine and mask mandates have kept our students in school.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My perspective on public policies is inspired by my work in schools and with communities. Our families are significantly impacted by the preschool to prison pipeline and housing, food, healthcare and job insecurity. As a result it’s of essential interest to me that we pursue justice system reforms, reasonably affordable housing, living wages, universal healthcare and job services. What affects DPS families affects students' ability to learn. The trauma and grief and loss inflicted upon our families on a regular basis and even moreso during COVID requires increased and improved mental health supports.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

#### Campaign website[edit]

Esserman's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

PRIORITIES

Students Community Transformation

Scott's perspective on policies are inspired by his work in classrooms and with communities.

First and foremost, Scott will prioritize student needs. He firmly believes student well-being tied to improved learning outcomes is rooted in the Community School Model, which emphasizes collaboration and healing.

The Community School Model is designed to serve our students and their families better.

Scott is ready to lead with the community to transform the system that exists now and create one that will ensure every student will have the needed tools to be successful.

STUDENTS FIRST

Empowering every student to pursue their path to success

Scott’s work and advocacy are about empowering all children to explore their strengths in a healthy environment. Every child’s path to success is different, and it all starts with access to a high-quality education. We have witnessed our public education system fail to adjust to our children’s needs for far too long. Putting students first means looking at the science behind how we support our kids. For example, studies strongly support later start times for high school and middle-school students. Scott is ready to have these conversations and create a system that meets our student’s needs first. As a concerned parent, Scott is willing to work in a co-governance model with our educational leaders including students, parents, educators, and our elected officials to establish accountability at every level to ensure we are meeting every child's needs.

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Emphasizing education for the whole child

Community Schools are the cornerstone of Scott's platform. Through his experience assisting Denver Discovery School faculty and families reimagining what had been labeled a failing school into a Community School, Scott gained new, unique and invaluable knowledge of the benefits and challenges of implementing the Community School model. Communities in Denver have unique needs as we have heard listening to parents and students. The Community School design is one of the most effective models of education for the whole child. The National Education Association guides the six pillars of a community school:

Strong and proven culturally relevant curriculum High-quality teaching and learning Inclusive Leadership Restorative, positive behavior practices Family and community partnerships Coordinate and integrate wraparound supports

FULFILLING THE DPS PROMISE

Ensuring student preparation for college, career and life

DPS has promised its students, their families, and the city of Denver that every student will have access to high-quality education, graduate, and be prepared for life. Scott believes it is imperative to move substantially closer to that promise. Life after DPS for our students can include college, military, and/or technical careers. It is critical to identify that preparation also requires critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, information literacy, media literacy, technology literacy, and flexibility. Additionally, Scott believes (as he has heard from alumni) in creating comprehensive financial literacy programs. To meet this promise, there are some simple but not easy steps to take.

We need to ensure that educators have access to culturally relevant and scientifically proven effective curricula, with structures and supports for success for every child. We need those curricula delivered with outstanding culturally relevant instruction. All students must have access to Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate/Early College or other proven opportunities to learn at the most advanced levels. We need a proportional representation of students in Gifted/Talented programs and Special Education services.

We can't ensure success without focusing on social and emotional growth. We need to work on expanding trauma-informed and social/emotional supports for our students and educators. We must work across governmental lines to ensure that our student’s most basic needs are being met by securing access to wrap-around services for our families that have to be available all day, year-round.

INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP

Engaging students with educators who reflect their lived experiences

Historically, we have witnessed far too many Black and Brown educators and leaders leave DPS. While the promise to increase the recruitment and retention of Black and Brown educators in order to cultivate a new generation of leadership has remained a stated goal of DPS, the results over the past four years have remained, at best, uneven. Scott has listened to educators of color who have left DPS talk about not being supported as a primary reason to leave. Studies are clear on students’ emotional and learning benefits when they see themselves in their teachers and school leaders. Furthermore, studies show that diverse and reflective staff benefits every child in their classroom.

We see a lot of lip service to equity, but see little policy change to support it. It is time for DPS to prioritize diversifying staff and leadership. We know this is essential in our work of dismantling structures of bias and racism. Scott will work closely with the Black Teacher Caucus, the DPS Senior Leadership Team, and our state legislature to ensure we cultivate an inclusive environment that will foster a robust program of educators, principals, and leaders of varying races, cultural backgrounds, and sexual identities.

SCHOOL FUNDING

Supporting students with the resources that they deserve

Nationally and in Colorado, funding for education is a continued embarrassment. We are too often told to do more with less, which leads to districts and advocates fighting with each other over financial crumbs. As a result, we have to make good with the resources we currently have. In order to achieve that, we must increase budgetary transparency and reconsider and adjust the DPS per-pupil funding model that fails our students and is designed to cultivate a competitive education model. We have to boldly transform any system that doesn't best serve students and create a system that ensures that monies are distributed based on student needs. This will allow us to provide a balance between school autonomy and central office supports.

In Colorado, we land in the bottom five states nationally for per-pupil funding and teacher pay. The many restrictions of TABOR exacerbate these struggles. Scott is committed to advocating for increased funding at the state level. He will unite groups who are too often pitted against each other to fight for money.

SUPPORTING OUR EDUCATORS

Serving students best by valuing teachers

Scott has been an educator for over 20 years. He knows our educators’ joys and frustrations in the classroom. It is time to create reasonable and meaningful evaluations for our educators that will foster growth. DPS has lost many senior educators to neighboring districts due to their not being valued. This status is even more alarming for our educators and leaders of color. Scott plans to foster more support for our educators by advocating for their interests. During unprecedented times we see our educators heroically utilizing the resources available. Scott is committing to a listening tour with faculty and staff in order to determine how to ensure that we are best serving students.

TESTING

Utilizing assessments that improve insight into student progress

After decades of testing, our public education systems continue to fail Black and Brown students predictably. These systems are getting the results that they were designed to get. In-fact the only extractable information from our standardized tests is the socio-economic status of a student. As demonstrated through decades of testing, we cannot test our way to academic success. This is why Scott plans to work with law-makers in Colorado to change the current testing requirements and no longer tie educators’ job performance and pay to tests that do not enhance students’ learning. Scott will move DPS beyond test scores to measure learning with ongoing assessments proven to benefit our educators and students.[8]

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—Esserman for Denver Kids[11]

### Gene Fashaw[edit]

Fashaw's campaign website stated the following:

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Gene Fashaw is a 8th grade math teacher in Far Northeast Denver and Denver school board candidate. He grew up in the Denver Montbello neighborhood and attended John Amesse Elementary, McGlone Elementary, Smiley Middle School and bused to George Washington for the Computer Magnet Program. Gene earned an academic scholarship to the historically black college Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and earned his B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management.

Gene’s experience as a DPS teacher includes classroom teaching, coaching flag football and boys basketball, and advising on social-emotional development. While teaching, he earned his MA in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. His firsthand experience in education has shown him where our schools are succeeding and where we can do better.

As a teacher, he is also committed to creating lifelong learners and models that commitment by working toward an MS in Biotechnology from Morehouse School of Medicine.

As a man of Black and Puerto Rican heritage, he is focused on breaking down stereotypes and challenging the bias he has experienced firsthand. For his students, this means modeling restorative practices, relationship building, and a dedication to anti-racist and culturally sustaining curriculum. Gene knows these are a few of the key building blocks to help our students meet their full potential. He is also committed to recruiting and retaining teachers who reflect the diversity of the student body.

Gene is married to Kenya who is a writer, poet, and performer; as well as the Chief Creative Officer of 5280 Artist Coop. Together they are raising two amazing DPS kids: Kylia, age 8, and Gene Jr., age 5.[8]

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—Gene for DPS District 4[12]

### Xochitl Gaytan[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Xochitl Gaytan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gaytan's responses.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Mexican-born and now a proud naturalized U.S. Citizen-- I lived the experience of being an undocumented child within DPS schools. My husband and I are products of Denver Public Schools ( DPS ), graduating from Lincoln High School in Southwest Denver. After earning my B.S. in Business Management from MSU Denver, I now work in real estate where I have been representing working families in Southwest Denver for the past 19 years. Harvey Park is the community I have chosen to live, work and raise my family in. Like many of you, having the right to a quality school was one of the top reasons we chose the neighborhood and house we live in now. Denver families still want to move into a safe, strong neighborhood where they can count on a quality school. Buying a home and choosing a neighborhood are important life decisions and having a quality school has always been a key factor in those decisions. Strong schools have also been a foundation to build and maintain stronger communities. Whether you have kids in school today or not, every family in Denver deserves the opportunity for an excellent, equitable education opportunity within their neighborhood. Making sure your tax dollars are reaching the classroom will be a top priority for me as your Board Director. The integrity of our communities depends on strong schools.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

* Re-allocate funds to classrooms: Maximize your tax dollars where it matters most
* Support our teachers, paras, and nutrition service workers: Support school staff's rights for a better work environment, creating a healthier learning environment for all students.
* Prioritize student well-being: Prioritize smaller class sizes, increase culturally relevant curricula, increase arts/music/sports/civic education.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Protecting Public Education: 1\. Early Childhood Education - affordable and high quality, comprehensive programs from birth - 4 years old to properly prepare children for elementary school. 2\. Safe, warm and welcoming school environments - resources to teachers, smaller classroom sizes, and additional wrap-around services such as counselors and nurses. 3\. Nutrition services programs - improve the nutrition program equitably in every neighborhood school. 4\. Charter School Accountability - requirements for private funding/grant funding disclosures, and set standard for transparency, oversight and equity to school board and vice-versa.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

✓ DPS parent ✓ Graduate of Lincoln High School and Metro State University of Denver with a degree in Business Management ✓ Small business owner ✓ Community leader - President of the my neighborhood organization ✓ 25-year homeowner ✓ Strong advocate for public education ✓ Warrior for education justice ✓ Mother, daughter, sister, wife, aunt, neighbor, friend

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

#### Campaign website[edit]

Gaytan's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

CORE VALUES ON EDUCATION:

* Public education leads us all into economic stability.

* Education creates confident, civic-minded leaders that will make a positive impact in their communities.

* Equitably-funded public school education is a right for all.

* Students from all communities, backgrounds, ethnicities should have a quality school to attend in the community they live in.

* Teachers should have more growth opportunity, provided with a more secured master contract and financial support from the administration and the Board of Education of the school district they work in.

* Parents and communities should also get involved and support their local schools.[8]

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—Xochitl Gaytan[13]

### Vernon Jones Jr.[edit]

Jones' campaign website stated the following:

“  |

VERNON'S PRIORITIES

We believe that a better and best reality for students, families, and staff is possible now. We believe that the box of education, structures and systems designed for some, must be reimagined by the genius of students, families, and staff closest to the work. We believe that we get there by implementing the following values.

EQUITY AS PRACTICE

It cannot be a certificate that we earn or a check box on the professional development menu. It must become our default practice to serve, support, and sustain structures and systems that are equitable for students, families, and staff. It must become our disposition, our desire, and our daily do because we seek a better and best reality now.

Immediately identify and end all policies and practices that are poisonous fruits from the poisonous root of racism, supremacy ideology, oppression and mediocrity

Remove those who have been or would continue to be perpetrators of status quo systems and survival silos, that by design, continue to fail black and brown students, families, and staff

Truth and reconciliation commission that identifies past harms and works to heal and restore so we can move together toward our desired reality

WELLNESS AS A BASELINE EXPECTATION

It cannot continue to be an aspirational goal, it must be an actualized reality. We must ensure that the wellness of students, families, and staff is a norm within our policies and practices. We must abolish barriers to wellness knowing that wellness is essential to learning and thriving. We must prioritize it in our budgets, our resourcing, and staffing of schools and central office supports.

ACHIEVEMENT

Equity and wellness are the seed and the water, achievement is the fruit of our commitment to be both well. We expect students to have year over year, grade level knowledge and skills. We expect student proficiencies to be aligned with where they should, can, and must be to realize the dreams for their lives. We expect outcomes congruent with our hopes. We expect transparent sharing of data that moves us to focus on the total wellness of students, families, and staff.

RESPONSIBILITY BY THE ECOSYSTEM

How do we make all of this happen? How do we right the past and present wrongs? How do we shake free from insane cycles of mediocrity? We must move together. This demands dialogue, co-creation and co-delivery by the entire ecosystem. We must break the survival silos and operate in the power of our interdependence, in the brilliance of the collective, to solve for present and future challenges that threaten equity, wellness, and achievement for students.

Clarity of vision and clarity of roles

Resourcing schools to achieve vision

Increased partnerships with city and community agencies to realize vision

Strategic planning between district, city, and community agencies to deliver on our promises to our children

We believe that together, WE CAN THRIVE![8]

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—Vernon Jones Jr.[14]

### Andrea Mosby Jones[edit]

As of October 4, 2021, Ballotpedia could not identify campaign themes for Mosby Jones.

### Carrie Olson[edit]

Olson's campaign website stated the following:

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Experienced Teacher Community Builder Committed to All Students

My entire life has been about public education. I was elected to the Denver School Board in 2017 after three decades of teaching in Denver. I am a parent of a DPS graduate. I know that the most important factor in successful outcomes for all our students is what happens in the classroom.

I am running for re-election to continue to use my experience in our district. I have a clear understanding of how our school board's decisions and policies affect our students' engagement in learning and their academic achievement. As a community builder, I believe "Hablando se entiende" ("by talking, people understand each other") is powerful. It creates a bigger table for necessary conversations about our public schools.

My commitment to DPS means I will use my experience and my relationships to tackle the pressing issues before us. I would be honored to have your support and your vote to continue as District 3 Director.[8]

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—Carrie Olson[15]

### Michelle Quattlebaum[edit]

Quattlebaum's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

Student Safety

We must remain focused on advancing physical, emotional, social, cultural, and intellectual spaces for students. Every student should feel safe and welcomed the moment they enroll in Denver Public Schools. For Michelle this means advancing physical, emotional, social, cultural and intellectual spaces for students. In order to make that happen we need to put resources in place to support our educators, increase mental health supports, and ensure that every community is able to have their needs met with wrap-around services.

Access to Resources

All students regardless of social and economic backgrounds must have access to resources in Denver Public Schools. We want every student to have the same opportunities for college and career readiness, sports, and well rounded electives. But before we rise the tide, we need to ensure all students have a boat. All students must have access to post secondary readiness opportunities. Michelle will prioritize equity in our education system by supporting universal meal programs, ensuring that every student has access to the technology they need in the classroom and at home, and partnering across governmental lines to see that families and educators have the support they need.

Authentic Community Partnership

We must engage in authentic partnership with students, teachers, families, and community partners. It took Michelle six years to change the systems at George Washington and create an inclusive International Baccalaureate (IB) program for ALL students. She spent those six years building a coalition of students, educators, families, and community partners. This took having authentic conversations, genuine listening, and true collaboration. Michelle will continue these guiding principles advocating for all children in Denver Public Schools. Now as an educator Michelle advocates for families that did not have the same resources she did.

Diverse Staff Recruitment, Support, & Retention

When we hire our educators we must ensure that our applicants are diverse like our current student population. This means working with our unions and various community organizations to recruit more Black, Brown, and Indigenous educators. Then we must do our part as a district to ensure that ALL educators are paid a true living wage. Did you know that the majority of our para-educators are people of color, however over seventy five percent of our in classroom teachers are white? Michelle’s experience of building diverse coalitions will help guide her as a School Board member to ensure that diversity is always the focal point when we go out into our communities to search for the best educators for our students. Finally we must create an environment where our educators want to return each year to continue this hard work. This means we must re-evaluate how our educators are graded on their performance, because LEAP is a broken system. Michelle is ready to begin working on these issues on day one.[8]

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—Michelle for Denver Kids[16]

### Jane Shirley[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jane Shirley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Shirley's responses.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I've spent most of my career working at the intersection of education, business and the arts. As a career educator, I’ve taught across all grade levels, worked in the central office, and served as a high school principal. After retiring from Aurora Public Schools, I developed a program for principals and district leaders focused on leadership for transformational change. I'm currently working as a consultant and executive coach for education leaders and entrepreneurs. Along with my work in education, my husband Dave and I own Rattlebrain Productions, a company that creates and produces original comedy. Our son Drew often gets roped into helping out with video shoots or running tech, making it a full family affair. Together, we’re in the business of making people laugh and we take that very, very seriously. I have a talent for connecting seemingly unrelated dots, creating order out of chaos, and putting together powerhouse teams. I lead with honesty, fairness, and humor. I build organizations that are respectful and open, and I care deeply about the health and well-being of our school communities. I hope to bring my knowledge, skills, and belief in what’s possible to support the future success of Denver Public Schools.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

* A key responsibility of the board is to oversee the work of the superintendent and evaluate his performance. I am an experienced school and district leader and I’ve also served as a COO and CEO in a non-profit organization. I will use my organizational and leadership development expertise to help build and sustain a strong and trusting relationship between the board and the superintendent, provide effective feedback, and evaluate performance.
* I have a proven track record of results in leading transformational change. I will bring those skills to oversee a strategic planning process that harnesses the creative capacity of our entire community. With a strong plan in place, we will more effectively utilize resources, eliminate waste, and empower our educators to implement actions that improve student performance in all our schools.
* Over the past few years, the board has struggled to effectively engage the community in important decisions. I will bring strong planning and facilitation skills along with my experience in community engagement to help the board create effective processes for input and participation. This will require us to go beyond surveys and committees. It will require us to listen to all voices and perspectives through processes that build and maintain trust.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'd like to see the state strengthen non-profit regulation in the areas of donor disclosure and issue advocacy. Currently, there are many non-profits involved with Denver Public Schools and we need greater transparency in who is funding the organizations and how different organizations may be connected to each other. School choice and charter school policies have led to a fractured and incoherent system in DPS which is more expensive, less effective and is not getting better results for students. Denver's lack of strategy in this area has also resulted in resegregation across the city. This needs to be addressed at both the local and state level.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Deborah Meier asserts that it’s time for us to “measure” schools by the values we believe in for public life in general, and to “measure” our students, then, by the long-term impact they will have on our larger society and the vitality of our democracy. In this podcast, she talks about how to build and maintain trust and mutual respect among students, teachers, and families. You can listen to an interview or download a transcript here: https://ethicalschools.org/2019/05/deborah-meier-on-public-education-and-democracy-what-makes-an-ethical-school/

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm a teacher, designer, facilitator, coach, and writer. I am idea oriented with strong analytical skills. I have a talent for connecting seemingly unrelated dots, creating order out of chaos, and putting together powerhouse teams. I lead with honesty, fairness, creativity and humor. I build organizations that are respectful and open and I care deeply about the health of each community that I'm a part of. I am an optimistic pessimist who believes that everyone is working together for the greater good, but who also knows that is not always true. So I look for the good, but I'm not afraid to call out the bad because at my core, I value justice over getting along.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked for Sears Catalog Department for about a year during high school. We were located in the back of the store which was in the mall in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sears catalog was published a few times each year and customers would call into our department to place orders for merchandise (this was long before computers and the internet). There were two main tasks in this job: take orders by phone when the customer called the department, and call the customer when their order came in. In addition to that, we were supposed to call customers to tell them about some random item on sale like an oscillating fan, a rake, or some piece of furniture. Any items sold during outgoing calls were totaled up and we received a bonus if we hit certain sales goals. I hated the thought of just calling someone out of the blue and trying to sell them something and it turns out, I never had to do that. The very first time I called a customer to tell them their order was in, the person thanked me and then said, "while I have you on the phone, I've got a couple of things to order." Then they ordered a washer, dryer, refrigerator and stove which catapulted me to first place in sales. A couple of weeks later the same thing happened only the guy placed an order for a tractor and a couple of days after that a woman ordered an entire bedroom set. I worked there almost a year and remained the top salesperson without ever doing a single cold call.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Because of my current campaign work, the song that is stuck in my head is Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight."

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

We can measure the impact of good teaching by observing the responses of the young people who work with the teacher. When you enter the classroom of a good teacher, you feel relaxed and comfortable. You see evidence that students are thinking, and creating, and solving problems. You see growth and development over time. You see every individual child treated with love and kindness and valued for their unique talents and interests. We know how to measure good teaching and it's not with any of the current tools in use today. As a board member, I'll be looking to the expert teachers and leaders to provide the data along with their analysis of strengths and needs. In order to foster continued innovation in teaching, we need to first ensure the well-being of teachers. I will focus on the healthiness of school cultures, the experience and competence of school leaders, and the opportunities for teachers to engage in meaningful professional learning. When teachers are trusted and supported and given the autonomy to create, they will continue to advance their own practice and support the development of their colleagues.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

The district budget needs to be built based on the needs of our students. Currently, there are plans to conduct an organizational and financial audit. This will provide us the information needed to fully understand the current state of the district. After aligning on the most important strategic goals, the budget can be built to invest in the district's priorities. This will also require decisions on what to stop doing, where to stop spending and how to utilize the talent within the district in the most effective ways.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

#### Campaign website[edit]

Shirley's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

I'm a teacher, designer, facilitator, coach, writer, performer and novice ukulele player. I have a talent for connecting seemingly unrelated dots, creating order out of chaos, and putting together powerhouse teams. I lead with honesty, fairness, creativity and humor. I build organizations that are respectful and open and I care deeply about the health of each community that I'm a part of. I am an optimistic pessimist who believes that everyone is working together for the greater good, but who also knows that is not always true. So I look for the good, but I'm not afraid to call out the bad because at my core, I value justice over getting along.

My Story

I consider myself a Coloradan since I've lived here for almost forty years, but I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma which is where I get my expertise on tornadoes. My mom always told us kids we were part Cherokee from her side and part Choctaw from my dad's. I knew my grandfather was born in Indian Territory in 1900 and one of my great grandmothers came to Oklahoma via the Trail of Tears, but the rest of the story was largely unknown. As information became more accessible and I learned more about my own ancestry, it got me thinking about how our identities are formed and shaped by both nature and nurture. None of us is an archetype of any one race, culture, religion or upbringing and all of us are influenced by our DNA, our families, communities and the events we experience. The opportunity before us is to understand and embrace our differences for the richness they bring and to align on the hopes that we share for our future.

I've spent most of my career working at the intersection of education, business and the arts and I'm currently a consultant and executive coach for education leaders and entrepreneurs. In 2005, I was selected to lead William Smith High School in Aurora, which was known at the time as "Last Chance High". Using the foundations for creating that I had been studying through my work with Robert Fritz and Peter Senge, my team and I transformed the school into an award-winning program that has sustained success through two leadership changes. After passing the leadership baton to my assistant principal, I began work for a non-profit where I designed a leadership program that teaches principals and district leaders how to use the creative process as the foundation for strategic planning.

In addition to my consulting work, my husband Dave and I are partners in a company called Rattlebrain Productions. In 2002 we opened a new theater in the basement of the D&F Tower and were honored to receive the Downtown Denver Partnership Award for significant contribution and positive impact in our very first year. Since then, we've gone on to write and produce several shows that have played in Denver and around the country. Our son Drew often gets roped into helping out with video shoots or running tech, making it a full family affair. Together, we are in the business of making people laugh and we take that very, very seriously.

My Goal

If elected, I will bring the knowledge, skills and wisdom I've developed over my 30+ year career, along with the full force of my passion, to work creatively and collaboratively with the Denver School Board to take bold actions toward what's possible.[8]

|  ”

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—Jane Shirlely[17]

### Jose Silva[edit]

Silva's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

Campaign Priorities

1\. Implementing Mental Wellness Policies that support the whole child. If we are to end the school to prison pipeline, grow the graduation rate and now with the creation of the EC Division at the state level, we need to be prepared as an educational institution with the reality regarding the diversity in all areas of our students. I will lead with a focus on creating mental wellness policies that support our students' short- and long-term transition back to the classroom and working to put in place practices to identify when our children are struggling and a pathway of support.

2\. I will lead a SWOT Analysis and then metrics for change, creating a strategic plan regarding all policies, laws, and regulations that impact our district; and implement policies that help improve the work of DPS Schools.

3\. BUDGET! With the decrease in DPS student population, we need to become fiscally smart and only focused on the work of DPS. I mean heads down in the numbers, data and spending the time to lift DPS financially, rather than spending time running for the next office.

4\. Support and Hold account our new Superintendent to the needs of the varying communities and be a guiding voice in those conversations. I am held accountable to my board for goals i.e., financial, growth, sustainability, and maturity of programs, which is the lens I will bring for Dr. Marrero.

5\. Equity. Equity. Equity. Moving our thinking from a lens to a foundation. Lifting the work of Dr. Sharon Bailey and commissioning a study for the Latino/x/a Denver population.

The job of a DPS Board member from my historical view which I believe is how I will lead, is that our work should not be flashy but speak for itself and always be about the students first, and lastly, as an advocate and voice for the community that is the board member I will be.[8]

|  ”

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—Dr. Silva for Denver Kids[18]

### Karolina Villagrana[edit]

Villagrana's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

KAROLINA'S PRIORITIES

Pathway Readiness

We support all our learners from day one, beginning with a strong literacy foundation.

Meaningful Metrics

Our students are complex, thus we need benchmarks that leverage comprehensive data points that are inclusive of supporting ALL our students

Loved Ones and Community Partnership

Quality education does not only happen during school and it cannot be achieved without loved ones and the larger community. It is key that we create partnerships to enrich student academic programming and wellness.

ABOUT KAROLINA

Putting Her Experience to Work

An experienced leader and passionate educator, Karolina has always sought to influence education policy and connect it with best practices. Karolina leverages a rich history of school leadership, management, strategic planning, innovation, and community building. She has served as Principal-in-Residency, Assistant Principal, Instructional Coach, and both a founding teacher and classroom teacher. She is a graduate of Colorado University of Denver and holds a Master’s Degree from Columbia University in Educational Leadership.[8]

|  ”

|
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—Karolina for Southwest Denver Kids[19]

### Nicky Yollick[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Nicky Yollick completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Yollick's responses.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Nicky grew up in the Houston Area, where he took to community organizing from a young age. As a Senior in High School, Nicky successfully lobbied his school’s administration to enable students to organize a school-wide debate on various social issues of the day.

Nicky got his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Tulane University before moving to Denver in 2008 to study International Relations at the University of Denver.

In 2018, Nicky wrote a resolution for the Denver Democratic Party’s platform seeking to reverse the ongoing privatization of public education, instead focusing resources on student equity and supporting educators. Alongside a coalition of community leaders, he lobbied Denver Democrats to overwhelmingly pass the resolution, clearing a path for Denverites to elect a slate of pro-education candidates in 2019's Denver Public School Board elections.

Over the last several years, Nicky has founded several organizations geared toward building community-leadership for student equity and neighborhood schools in DPS.

Nicky lives in the East Colfax neighborhood of Denver with his partner, Nicki Nanton, their dog, Julep, two cats, Gonzo and Libby, and two little corn snakes, Fettucine and Campanelli. Nicki is a hospice social worker and is getting ready to start her nursing degree.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

* Classroom Equity - A strong, equitable education for all children in DPS is the essential goal of having a School District.
* Community Leadership - An informed, active community will lead the decision-making process in finding dynamic solutions to student inequity.
* Radical Transparency - For community to take the lead, it must be informed of exactly how taxpayer money is being used in administration of education.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

In working toward Classroom Equity, Nicky will focus on: Shifting resources from the Central Administration to classrooms, particularly of Title I schools, ensuring that all DPS schools are equipped to serve kids with special needs. Replacing oppressive accountability systems with ones that appraise development of the whole child, ending our overreliance on standardized testing. Renewing the District’s emphasis on cultural accountability. In working toward Community Leadership, Nicky will focus on: Building tangible mechanisms that require DPS to follow the community’s lead, such as a Community Action Team (CAT) which will put forth quarterly recommendations the Board will be required to vote on. Returning to a neighborhood model of education with each school uniting its community around a shared goal of strong, equitable public education and societal development. Letting teachers teach. In working toward Radical Transparency, Nicky will focus on: Ensuring that all DPS finances are available online in a manner accessible to the General Public. Conducting an aggressive audit of every penny and position in the Central Administration with community members invited to join in the work. Opening a Constituent Services Office.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

#### Campaign website[edit]

Yollick's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

Issues

Achieving Equity

A strong, equitable education for all children in DPS is the essential goal of having a School District.

In working toward Classroom Equity, Nicky will focus on:

Shifting resources from the Central Administration to classrooms, particularly of Title I schools, ensuring that all DPS schools are equipped to serve kids with special needs. Replacing oppressive accountability systems with ones that appraise development of the whole child, ending our overreliance on standardized testing. Renewing the District’s emphasis on cultural accountability by: Allowing teachers to lead development of a culturally responsible curriculum. Requiring District staff to undergo training in cultural understanding to retain teachers of color. Treating our educators as the professionals they are, thereby reducing turnover.

Partnering with Educators

Educators understand classroom needs better than anyone and it is essential we include their voices in long-term decision-making.

In Partnering with Educators, Nicky will focus on:

Returning to a neighborhood model of education with each school uniting its community around a shared goal of strong, equitable public education and societal development. Improving educator retention through better pay and benefits while encouraging a creative and collaborative classroom environment which celebrates diverse cultures. Letting teachers teach. This means: Putting educators in control of the District’s curriculum. Making learning more authentic by allowing teachers to incorporate current events into the curriculum and attend to their students’ social and emotional needs. Providing educators with greater administrative control and support from the Central Administration.

Community & Transparency

An informed, active community will lead the decision-making process in finding dynamic solutions to student inequity.

In working toward Community Leadership, Nicky will focus on:

Building tangible mechanisms that require DPS to follow the community’s lead, such as a Community Action Team (CAT) which will put forth quarterly recommendations the Board will be required to vote on. Conducting an aggressive audit of every penny and position in the Central Administration with community members invited to join in the work. Opening a Constituent Services Office oriented toward: Giving constituents regular face-to-face, 1:1 opportunities with Directors. Providing community members with all pertinent information on DPS proceedings for personal or public research. Enabling community leaders to determine a framework for how the Administration and Board will pursue authentic grassroots engagement. [8]

|  ”

|
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—Nicky for Denver Kids[20]

## What was at stake?[edit]

### Report a story for this election[edit]

Ballotpedia researches issues in school board elections across the United States, but information availability is a challenge for us in many school districts. Please contact us about the issues that impact your local school district. Note that not all submissions may meet Ballotpedia's coverage requirements for inclusion.

### Candidate survey[edit]

Ballotpedia invites school board candidates to participate in its annual survey.
Click here to view or fill out the survey.

|

## About the district[edit]

See also: Denver Public Schools, Colorado

Denver Public Schools is located in Denver County, Colorado. The district served 803,360 students during the 2015-2016 school year.[21]

## See also[edit]

Denver Public Schools | Colorado | School Boards

|
|

* Denver Public Schools, Colorado, elections (2019)

* List of school districts in Colorado

* Colorado school board elections, 2021
* Public education in Colorado
* Local ballot measures, Colorado

* School board elections, 2021
* School board elections, 2020

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic
* Denver Public Schools

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Voter Registration FAQs," accessed September 20, 2021
2. ↑ Denver, "November 2021 Coordinated Election," accessed September 20, 2021
3. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Acceptable Forms of Identification," accessed September 20, 2021
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chalkbeat, "13 candidates are vying for four open seats on the Denver school board," September 2, 2021
5. ↑ Denver Post, "Teachers union endorses four candidates in November’s Denver Board of Education election," September 9, 2021
6. ↑ Chalkbeat, "Denver charter school, innovation zone employees can’t also be on school board," September 24, 2021
7. ↑ In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
9. ↑ Marla for School Board, "Home," accessed October 4, 2021
10. ↑ Dr. Mike DeGuire, "Goals," accessed October 4, 2021
11. ↑ Esserman for Denver Kids, "Priorities," accessed October 4, 2021
12. ↑ Gene for DPS District 4, "Home," accessed October 4, 2021
13. ↑ Gaytan for DPS, "About," accessed October 4, 2021
14. ↑ Jones for Denver, "Vernon's Priorities," accessed October 4, 2021
15. ↑ Carrie Olson, "Home," accessed October 4, 2021
16. ↑ Michelle for Denver Kids, "Issues," accessed October 4, 2021
17. ↑ Jane Shirley, "Qualifications," accessed October 4, 2021
18. ↑ Dr. Silva, "Priorities," accessed October 4, 2021
19. ↑ Karolina for Southwest Denver Kids, "Home," accessed October 4, 2021
20. ↑ Nicky for Denver Kids, "Issues," accessed October 4, 2021
21. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Local Education Agency (School District) Universe Survey Data," accessed January 29, 2018

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