Denver Public Schools, once a national pacesetter for education reform and innovation, has been struggling for years in more ways than one. Colorado’s largest school district has become one of the state’s most troubled. 

While some of DPS’ decline arguably is beyond the district’s control — its ebbing enrollment is part of a statewide pattern — a lot of the district’s travails are of its own making. Blame a long-dysfunctional school board whose hand-picked superintendent oversees an at-times rogue administration. Among the ripple effects has been a central office bent on shutting the press and public out of key decisions, and an upside-down safety and discipline policy that seats high-risk lawbreakers in class to the peril of other students, teachers and staff. 

Meanwhile, the board’s majority has been oblivious as student achievement has plummeted.

An overdue stride back in the right direction was the election two years ago of three promising new board members. John Youngquist, Kimberlee Sia and Marlene De La Rosa had the background, mindset and understanding of district needs to move it forward again. Of course, they only comprised a minority of the seven-member board, so their influence has been limited.

This fall’s election offers Denver’s parents, taxpayers and community stakeholders a rare opportunity to finish the job begun two years ago — and get the district back on track. 

The Gazette editorial board highly recommends four bold, smart and dedicated candidates for the four openings on the DPS Board of Education on this fall’s mail ballot, now arriving at Denver households: Caron Blanke, Mariana Del Hierro, Timiya Jackson and Alex Magaňa. 

They will champion four essentials for our schools: student achievement, parental choice, school safety and district accountability.

CARON BLANKE seeks to represent east Denver’s District 3 on the DPS board. A DPS parent with a deep background in early childhood education, she has been recognized for her leadership in education and nonprofit work and is currently director of the JCC Early Learning School in Denver. Among the priorities enunciated by her campaign are some of the district’s most urgent needs: closing the achievement gap; listening to students, parents and teachers, and demanding accountability and transparency of the district. Vote for Blanke.

MARIANA DEL HIERRO is running for southwest Denver’s District 2 seat. Another DPS parent and executive director of community nonprofit Re:Vision, Del Hierro wants to move past the public education establishment’s rhetoric about equity to bring about equity in outcomes. Her campaign website states, “We need leadership that doesn’t just acknowledge inequity, but works to desegregate outcomes … I’ll push for clear goals, transparent data, and real accountability…” Vote for Del Hierro.

TIMIYA JACKSON is vying for northeast Denver’s District 4 board seat. The DPS parent is a former dean of students, nonprofit executive and now a dropout re-engagement specialist. Jackson, too, will demand accountability of the currently unaccountable district administration, promising to “push for a clear, public breakdown of how funds are spent and who benefits.” She won’t stand for DPS fudging on student performance, promising on her campaign website to, “demand clear, consistent reporting on student achievement, school safety, and board actions.” She commendably notes, “without accountability, students pay the price.” Exactly. Vote for Jackson.

ALEX MAGAŇA is seeking the one open at-large seat on the DPS board. A parent of two DPS graduates, Magaňa is already well known as a veteran DPS math teacher, assistant principal and principal. In the wake of campus violence that has marred DPS, Magaňa’s campaign website offers a potent assurance: “Every child deserves to walk into a school where they feel safe, seen, and supported. That’s more than just security — it’s emotional safety, a sense of belonging, and school culture that keeps kids coming back because they want to be there.” Vote for Magaňa.