On Friday, Marlene De La Rosa, Kimberlee Sia, and John Youngquist took an oath of office to fulfill their duties as members of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. The ceremony marked a pivotal leadership transition during which three incumbent board members – who lost community trust amidst school violence, failure to prioritize student achievement, a pattern of shunning community input, and incessant infighting – were replaced by new leaders who promise to make safe learning environments and student academic success their top priorities.
De La Rosa, Sia, and Youngquist bring track records of competent and compassionate support for Denver’s diverse youth. Collectively, they inspire confidence throughout our community that they can move the seven-member Board toward policies and practices that will allow students to thrive and, ultimately, set up the city of Denver for long-term success.
Leadership transitions like this one fuel hope, but also a degree of uncertainty as a new group of decision-makers reset.
The nonprofit we represent called EDUCATE Denver is optimistic that this group will seize this opportunity to focus Board attention on high-quality public schools and student outcomes. That said, this elected Board will have to work hard to restore trust and put the district on a positive trajectory. Early action will be important; the urgency of the situation is real. Tens of thousands of students suffer with each day that passes without adequate support in schools.
Following are specific steps that EDUCATE Denver, our coalition of over 35 civic leaders, believes will move students toward better results and help DPS board members – old and new – win back the faith of the community:
1) Set an immediate tone of professional decorum: New members should build bridges with sitting board members. It will be important to find common ground in the effort to prioritize achievement-oriented discussion and policy. Likewise, existing board members would be well-served by listening to and learning from the leadership De La Rosa, Sia, and Youngquist bring to the table – they have earned much respect in their careers. The values they advance, including district transparency, data-driven decision-making, school and leadership accountability are concepts voters opted to support. It would be tone-deaf to resist such practices.
2) Seek collaborative city and community relationships: The Denver community supports Denver Public Schools. Our recently elected mayor committed to sharing city resources with the district; City Council resurrected a defunct committee to open dialogue with DPS leadership; and EDUCATE Denver’s coalition of civic leaders who fuel philanthropy, mobilize community, drive policy, influence bond elections, and mentor emerging leaders are at the ready to help propel this district forward. Given this broad base of potential supporters, we encourage the Board to welcome collaborative partnerships.
3) Put tough topics on a timeline: DPS has been grappling with a variety of challenges that create stress and uncertainty for families. Front and center are a revision of the discipline matrix and school consolidations/closures. Leadership has been slow to act definitively on these topics, which in turn, breeds discontent in the community. We recommend a timeline be set that establishes transparency for the decision-making process. Resolution should be achieved by the end of the school year and include periodic updates from the Superintendent throughout the process.
4) Set a course: It is an explicit responsibility of the Board of Education to set the strategic direction of the district in a manner that is measurable and transparent. We encourage this Board to require a revised strategic plan that includes student-centered outcomes, measurable goals, and aggressive district improvement strategies. We believe this plan should be developed by the Superintendent and staff and adopted formally by the Board through a vote.
5) Hold leadership accountable for achievement: DPS’ primary purpose is to educate students. It follows, then, that district leadership would be evaluated based on the ability of the district to deliver results. We recommend a Superintendent evaluation and improvement plan that is established immediately and which is primarily based upon closing the achievement gap in Denver Public Schools. The plan should include short-term milestones and measures to ensure progress during this school year.
6) Be accessible in the community: The previous Board landed a blow to the community by restricting an already infrequent opportunity for public comment. On the contrary, the community must have access to their elected officials. We recommend that the new board take steps to restore the original public comment process, but additionally, establish regular and predictable opportunities to engage with community members in their respective districts. Denverites deserve robust, authentic, and consistent partnership in defining the future of public education in our city.
Without question, there is reason for optimism in Denver Public Schools. The arrival of three new board members to the table, who are committed to finding effective ways to educate all students in the district, including those historically underserved, is cause for celebration. That said, now more than ever, the Board is in the spotlight. This city CAN have safe schools that are exceptional centers of learning. Our students deserve this; our community expects this. We look forward to a new chapter of great leadership for DPS.
Theresa Peña and Rosemary Rodriguez are co-chairs of EDUCATE Denver, a coalition of civic leaders who are elevating ECE-12 education as the city’s No. 1 priority.
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