{"id":687,"date":"2025-10-25T12:01:56","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T12:01:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/?p=687"},"modified":"2025-10-30T10:50:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T10:50:43","slug":"these-dps-incumbent-candidates-dont-support-school-choice-opinion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/25\/these-dps-incumbent-candidates-dont-support-school-choice-opinion\/","title":{"rendered":"These DPS incumbent candidates don\u2019t support school choice (Opinion)"},"content":{"rendered":"

As former members of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, we have long respected the complexity and responsibility of serving on the board. It is a demanding and often thankless role. Yet, the gravity of our district\u2019s challenges and the content of the Denver Post editorial from September 28, 2025<\/a>, compel us to speak out.<\/p>\n

The editorial referenced \u201csome candidates running for the Denver Board of Education who would rather see the district\u2019s world-class lottery system go away,\u201d and accused them of wanting to \u201ckeep the best schools in Denver a secret.\u201d Let\u2019s be clear: the three incumbents — Scott Esserman, X\u00f3chitl Gayt\u00e1n, and Michelle Quattlebaum \u2014 have led efforts to dismantle school choice in Denver. They have also collaborated with the Superintendent to only publicize the positive results and limit public access to negative school performance data especially among low income students. The public deserves to see the disaggregated achievement by race, ethnicity, and income.<\/p>\n

Despite campaigning on promises of transparency and accountability, the incumbents\u2019 actions have too often produced the opposite. The current board has made critical decisions behind closed doors, minimized authentic community engagement, and failed to deliver measurable improvement for Denver\u2019s students.<\/p>\n

This November, Denver voters have the opportunity to elect four new board members who will restore integrity, transparency, and student-centered decision-making. These candidates–Mariana del Hierro (District 2), Caron Blanke (District 3), Timiya Jackson (District 4), and Alex Maga\u00f1a (At-Large)\u2014represent the best of Denver\u2019s civic and educational leadership. Two are accomplished educators, and two bring executive management experience
\nrooted in community service. Collectively, they are prepared to govern responsibly and help rebuild a system that prioritizes student success above all else.<\/p>\n

The data tell a sobering story. While 75% of white students in DPS are proficient in reading, only 30% or fewer Black, Latino, and low-income students meet grade-level expectations–a gap that continues to widen. In mathematics, the disparities are even starker, with up to 80% of students from these groups performing below grade level.<\/p>\n

Standardized scores are not the only indicator of educational health, but they are an important one. Denver Public Schools has not returned to pre-pandemic levels of achievement and, alarmingly, has no clear plan to get there. The current leadership has failed to set ambitious goals, measure progress transparently, or hold itself accountable for student outcomes.<\/p>\n

It is deeply concerning that a board responsible for $1.5 billion in taxpayer funds, 90,000 students, and 15,000 employees demonstrates so little urgency or accountability. Under this leadership, Denver students have fallen even farther behind academically, socially, and emotionally.<\/p>\n

This election offers a turning point. Denver voters can choose leaders who bring urgency, competence, and a clear sense of responsibility to public education. Blanke, del Hierro, Jackson, and Maga\u00f1a are ready to collaborate with the Superintendent on an aggressive, student-centered plan to raise achievement and restore public confidence.
\nThe pandemic presented an opportunity to reimagine a district that works for every child. The current board–and the incumbents seeking reelection\u2014failed that test. Denver cannot afford another generation of lost potential.<\/p>\n

This November, we urge voters to support new leadership committed to transparency, accountability, and the belief that every Denver student deserves the opportunity to learn, thrive, and succeed.<\/p>\n

Elaine Gantz Berman, Theresa Pe\u00f1a and Mary Seawell are all former elected directors of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online<\/a> or check out our guidelines<\/a> for how to submit by email or mail.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As former members of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, we have long respected the complexity and responsibility of serving on the board. It is a demanding and often thankless role. Yet, the gravity of our district\u2019s challenges and the content of the Denver […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-columnists"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=687"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/687\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":688,"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/687\/revisions\/688"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}