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Podcast

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Podcast season 2 episode 3: School enrollment expert Brian Eschbacher on the root causes of enrollment declines (school choice is not the culprit)

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Colorado public schools are experiencing sustained enrollment declines (Denver less than many other districts), and that’s reshaping everything — school funding, staffing, program offerings, district politics, and debates over school choice. This is more than a demographic story; it’s a governance and values story. Today we are joined by Brian Eschacher to unpack enrollment trends, how school choice fits into the picture, and what districts and policy makers should be paying attention to next. 

Podcast season 2 episode 3: School enrollment expert Brian Eschbacher on the root causes of enrollment declines (school choice is not the culprit) Read More »

Podcast season 2, episode 2: former Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes on leading effectively in polarized times

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Dr. Katy Anthes served as Commissioner of Education in Colorado from 2016-2023, and is widely respected for her commitment to listen to diverse perspectives and her legacy of developing solutions that are founded on productive middle ground. Her perspective on how to foster meaningful dialogue and change across political and ideological differences has carried forward into her current work on a project called FORWARD: From Polarization to Progress.

Podcast season 2, episode 2: former Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes on leading effectively in polarized times Read More »

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Podcast episode 35: Boulder school board member Alex Medler on limiting cell phones in schools, and where reformers, philanthropy got things wrong on improving schools

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We asked Boulder school board member Alex Medler on to discuss his district’s bell-to-bell cellphone restriction policy, which is gaining momentum across the country (DPS is just forming a community committee to study the issue and make recommendations). We also wanted to hear his provocative  thoughts, as a long time charter school advocate and “ed reformer” on how his perspective has changed after two years as a school board member. He has strong opinions about where reformers, and the foundations that fund them, have gone astray.

Podcast episode 35: Boulder school board member Alex Medler on limiting cell phones in schools, and where reformers, philanthropy got things wrong on improving schools Read More »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »