Today, DFER-CO is proud to announce our support of four candidates running for a seat on the Denver Public Schools’ (DPS) Board of Education. The election takes place on November 5, 2013.
We are endorsing the following candidates: Rosemary Rodriguez (District 2), Mike Johnson (District 3), Landri Taylor (District 4), and Barbara O’Brien (At-Large).
“We are thrilled to support such strong candidates for the DPS Board. The professional experience, community service and leadership of each of these candidates is unmatched,” said founding DFER-CO Advisory Board member and former DPS School Board President Elaine Gantz Berman. “They have devoted their careers to improving the lives of Denver’s children and this community, and they will continue to advocate for excellent schools for all DPS students in every neighborhood in Denver.”
This election is critical to improving the quality of education for DPS’ students. We expect it will be followed closely, not only because a majority of the seats (4 of the 7) are up and there are a number of highly qualified candidates running, but because this is an opportunity for a reform-minded district to become even stronger. Improvements already underway and implemented by Superintendent Boasberg in the fastest-growing urban school district in the country could now mean better outcomes for 84,000 of Denver’s kids, as long as the right candidates are elected to serve.
We urge you to visit each of these candidates’ websites, learn more and get involved. There are 118 days until Election Day and there is a lot of hard work ahead.
Rosemary Rodriguez, District 2 (Southwest Denver): Rosemary attended DPS schools, is a parent of a DPS graduate and she is a former Denver City Council President.
Mike Johnson, District 3 (Central Denver): Mike is a school finance lawyer and DPS parent volunteer of 14 years.
Landri Taylor, District 4 (Northeast Denver): Landri is a current DPS Board Member (appointed March 2013) and President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver.
Barbara O’Brien, (At-Large): Barbara is the former Lt. Governor of Colorado and past President of the Colorado Children’s Campaign.
We’ll keep you posted on the outcome of the election. Fingers crossed!
Moira Cullen, DFER Colorado State Director, specializes in advocating for education reform, higher education, non-profit advocacy, and children’s policy issues as a lobbying expert in Denver, CO.