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Denver Families CEO Clarence Burton Jr.'s headshot.

Boardhawk podcast episode 22: A conversation with Denver Families CEO Clarence Burton Jr.

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As a service to our listeners, Boardhawk decided to reach out to the two school board election axes of influence — The Denver Classroom Teachers Association and Denver Families Action to learn more about their process and criteria for endorsing candidates, as well as their funding sources and strategies. We conclude this series with a conversation with Clarence Burton Jr., CEO of Denver Families Action and Denver Families for Public Schools.

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DCTA President Rob Gould's headshot.

Boardhawk Podcast episode 21: A conversation with DCTA President Rob Gould

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As a service to our listeners, Boardhawk decided to reach out to the two school board election axes of influence — The Denver Classroom Teachers Association and Denver Families Action to learn more about their process and criteria for endorsing candidates, as well as their funding sources and strategies. We begin this two-part series with Rob Gould, president of the DCTA.

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A graphic showing DPS test score data.

Boardhawk Podcast episode 20: The hard truths DPS won’t tell you about its test score results

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In this episode of the Boardhawk podcast, hosts Alexis Menocal Harrigan and Alan Gottlieb have an in-depth discussion on 2025 state test score results for Denver with educational consult and data expert Maya Lagana. While there are some sings of post-pandemic improvement, the data show that low-income students of color in Denver Public Schools continue to struggle academically, and achievement gaps have widened substantially since CMAS’ first year, 2017.

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Jeremy Harris's headshot.

Boardhawk Podcast episode 18: Featuring Jeremy Harris, northeast Denver (District 4) school board candidate

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Jeremy Harris is one of four candidates vying for the Denver school board seat currently held by Michelle Quattlebaum, who is running for reelection. Harris opposes what he describes on his campaign website as “lessons on sexuality, racism, and gender identity-based curricula in K–8 education.” In general, he stakes out positions that in some cases are more conservative than is typical in a Denver school board race.

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Boardhawk podcast episode 17: Featuring Caron Blanke, central Denver (District 3) school board candidate

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Caron Blanke is a Denver Public Schools parent, and the former director of the JCC (Jewish Community Center) Early Learning School, one of Denver’s top preschools. She is running for the District 3 school board seat, which encompasses a large swath of central Denver. In this podcast episode, Blanke discusses what she sees as a need for governance adjustments within the DPS board and administration, and her desire to be a change agent after several years of stagnant student achievement in the district.

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Mariana del Hierro's headshot.

Boardhawk podcast episode 16: Featuring Mariana del Hierro, southwest Denver (District 2) school board candidate

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In this podcast episode, Denver school board candidate Mariana del Hierro discusses with hosts Alexis Menocal Harrigan and Alan Gottlieb how her role as a parent of a Latino DPS student drives her passion to serve on the school board; her views on the state of the district’s academic performance; and her plans to be accessible to the community should she be elected.

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Timiya Jackson's headshot.

Boardhawk Podcast episode 15: Featuring Timiya Jackson, Denver school board candidate District 4 (Northeast Denver)

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In this podcast episode, Denver school board candidate Timiya Jackson (District 4 — northeast Denver) discusses with hosts Alexis Menocal Harrigan and Alan Gottlieb the need for greater transparency in Denver Public Schools, the distressing state of learning among the district’s neediest students, and why she views herself as uniquely positioned to serve the residents of District 4.

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Boardhawk Podcast episode 14: Featuring Dr. DJ Torres, Denver school board candidate

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In this podcast episode, central Denver (District 3) school board candidate Dr. DJ Torres discusses with hosts Alexis Menocal Harrigan and Alan Gottlieb his views on policy governance, school safety, the state of student learning, and why he does not plan to take money from “education reformers.”

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Boardhawk Podcast episode 13: Veteran educator, DPS board candidate Alex Magaña lays out his vision for the district

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Denver school board at-large candidate Alex Magaña is a veteran DPS educator. He is neither an “education reformer” nor a “defender of the status quo.” His many years of experience in schools give him a more nuanced view of the current state of pubic education, as his words on this podcast make clear.

Boardhawk Podcast episode 13: Veteran educator, DPS board candidate Alex Magaña lays out his vision for the district Read More »