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An illustration of school board candidates giving speeches to a crowd of adults, while two girls labeled "student voters" look on angrily.

SHIFT Chronicles: What school board election turnout tells students about young voter engagement

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Editor’s note: The SHIFT Chronicles is a monthly feature dedicated to amplifying student voices, where those most impacted by the public education system share their thoughts, reflections, and experiences. In collaboration with FaithBridge SHIFT fellows, these commentaries offer a genuine glimpse into the challenges students are facing within our city’s schools. These students represent a diverse range […]

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Kimberlee Sia's headshot.

Podcast episode 34: Denver school board member Kimberlee Sia on her hopes, vision for the next two years, and beyond

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Kimberlee Sia was elected to the Denver Public Schools Board of Education in 2023, representing southeast Denver’s District 1. She has two years remaining in her first term. In her career, Sia has been both a teacher and a school leader, so she came to her board service with some subject-matter expertise. She served as board treasurer during her first two years. Sia joined the podcast to discuss her hopes and visions for the next two years, as the board, with three new members, hods its first work session, and a retreat, next week. 

Podcast episode 34: Denver school board member Kimberlee Sia on her hopes, vision for the next two years, and beyond Read More »

Headshot of Jennifer Holladay

Podcast episode 33: Former DPS administrator Jennifer Holladay on the past, present and future of ed reform in Denver

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Jennifer Holladay was a senior Denver Public Schools administrator from 2013-21. She oversaw the district’s portfolio of schools program until leaving the district in 2021. As a new school board with a union-backed majority takes power next month, we thought Jen would be an ideal guest to discuss how the new board could affect portfolio or reform values like accountability, choice, school supports, autonomy,  and student-based budgeting.

Podcast episode 33: Former DPS administrator Jennifer Holladay on the past, present and future of ed reform in Denver Read More »

A graphic reading, "As the DPS Turns."

Podcast episode 32: The Youngquist censure, Marrero Chicago flirtation and other issues

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Podcast co-hosts Alexis Menocal Harrigan and Alan Gottlieb discuss recent, election developments, including the ludicrous censure of Denver Public Schools Board of Education member John Youngquist, Superintendent Alex Marrero’s flirtation with Chicago Public Schools, and other current topics.

Podcast episode 32: The Youngquist censure, Marrero Chicago flirtation and other issues Read More »

Maureen Kelleher's headshot.

Marrero and the mess in Chicago: a view from the Windy City

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Maureen Kelleher is a veteran Chicago education journalist, who now produces Board Rule, a deeply reported, weekly newsletter on Chicago Public Schools and its board. This article is from today’s edition of Board Rule. It focuses on the contentious search for a new CPS superintendent. Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero was one of two finalists for the job before the search process imploded, thanks to the usual craziness of Chicago politics. It’s well worth a read. Boardhawk is reprinting it with Kelleher’s permission.

Marrero and the mess in Chicago: a view from the Windy City Read More »

Auon'tai Anderson's headshot.

Podcast episode 31: Former DPS Vice-President Auon’tai Anderson on board member censures, other topics

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Former DPS board Vice-President Auon’tai Anderson reached out to Boardhawk editor Alan Gottlieb following two recent podcast episodes that mentioned Anderson’s own censure case while discussing the pending censure of board member John Youngquist. He asked to share his perspective on board censures. What followed was a wide-ranging conversation that should be of interest to listeners, regardless of their perceptions of and feelings about the outspoken former board member.

Podcast episode 31: Former DPS Vice-President Auon’tai Anderson on board member censures, other topics Read More »

A photo of Pastor Vernon Jones, Jr. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

Podcast episode 30: Pastor Vernon Jones Jr. on the implications of Tuesday’s Denver school board election

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Vernon Jones Jr. joins us to dissect the election and discuss its implications for the future of Denver Public Schools. Jones is a former board candidate and executive director of FaithBridge, a Denver-based nonprofit focused on mobilizing faith communities to support schools and promote educational equity for children throughout Colorado.

Podcast episode 30: Pastor Vernon Jones Jr. on the implications of Tuesday’s Denver school board election Read More »

A photo of Anna Jo Garcia Haynes and former Lieutenant Governor Barbara O'Brien.

Podcast episode 29: Former DPS board member, Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien on the past, present, and future of the school district

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Former Colorado Lieutenant Governor Barbara O’Brien served on the Denver Public Schools board during the period when it shifted from a more reform-oriented majority to the more DCTA-friendly majority. She was the lone dissenting vote in 2020 against the hiring of Alex Marrero as superintendent. She was also on the board as the current form of policy governance was implemented, and during the censure of board member Auon’tai Anderson. Her valuable perspective on current DPS events is timely, given the potentially pivotal election taking place next Tuesday, Nov. 4

Podcast episode 29: Former DPS board member, Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien on the past, present, and future of the school district Read More »

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Podcast episode 28: Investigative columnist Jimmy Sengenberger on the Youngquist investigation, its motivations and implications

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Denver Gazette investigative columnist Jimmy Sengenberger has some of the deepest sourcing on the Denver Public Schools beat, and has broken a number of important stories. When the so-called investigation report into DPS board member John Youngquist’s alleged racial insensitivity was released or leaked Monday night, Sengenberger came to mind as a good person to have on to discuss the report and its weaknesses, and its implications for the board and the district. It’s a lively discussion.

Podcast episode 28: Investigative columnist Jimmy Sengenberger on the Youngquist investigation, its motivations and implications Read More »