The Agenda
"Excellence for every child, in every classroom, in every community."
The foundational belief for Jones for Denver Public Schools is every child, in every classroom, in every community deserves an excellent education. Every child must be prepared to be successful on the next pathways of their lives. We need leaders who are driven by and committed to this cause, not a reform group or a union group, but committed to serving our children well.
The mission is clear. “The mission of the Denver Public Schools is to provide all students the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing citizens in our diverse society.”
The DPS Board is a body of elected stewards who are trusted by the community to ensure that this happens. It is a great trust that should not be violated by political games, posturing, or divisive rhetoric. One should not take up the call to serve if he or she is not willing to do whatever it takes to ensure an excellent education for every child. It’s not about protecting adults or picking sides; it’s about preparing all children.
With the district mission clearly in view, it is my belief that the role of the DPS board is to create policies, to inspect practices, to push as needed and to participate as requested, so that the district produces students that are prepared and ready for success on the next pathways of their lives.
Jones for Denver Public Schools believes that the DPS board can broaden and expedite excellence for every child, in every classroom, in every community, through:
- Innovation: Continue to craft/refine policies that encourage and support schools to seek innovation designation. Increase/refine innovation policies that will drive practices that give schools and their supportive communities all of the appropriate autonomies and tools to self-determine and serve their students well. We must use the tool of innovation to equip and empower our schools and their communities to act for the good of our students, not to shift which adult group controls a majority of the bureaucratic red tape. We need to work with DPS Administration to clearly articulate what we hope the Denver Plan will look like at full implementation at all levels of the organization, in every director district. If it is clearly understood where we are going people will better embrace the why and the necessity of our decision making. We need to be innovative in our partnerships and align with other organizations that can help us better prepare our students and support their families beyond the classroom so that students are ready for success in the classroom.
- Intentional diversity: Craft/refine policies that reflect that diversity within our schools, at all levels, is not an option but an expectation. Review and refine recruiting, hiring, and retention policies. Review school boundaries, impact of open enrollment, work with City of Denver on neighborhood planning, etc. Many before us fought for the integration of our schools with the belief that learning together would help us live together. It is important that we are courageous enough to demand that this value be lived out in all of our schools.
The mission is clear. “The mission of the Denver Public Schools is to provide all students the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing citizens in our diverse society.”
The DPS Board is a body of elected stewards who are trusted by the community to ensure that this happens. It is a great trust that should not be violated by political games, posturing, or divisive rhetoric. One should not take up the call to serve if he or she is not willing to do whatever it takes to ensure an excellent education for every child. It’s not about protecting adults or picking sides; it’s about preparing all children.
With the district mission clearly in view, it is my belief that the role of the DPS board is to create policies, to inspect practices, to push as needed and to participate as requested, so that the district produces students that are prepared and ready for success on the next pathways of their lives.
Jones for Denver Public Schools believes that the DPS board can broaden and expedite excellence for every child, in every classroom, in every community, through:
- Innovation: Continue to craft/refine policies that encourage and support schools to seek innovation designation. Increase/refine innovation policies that will drive practices that give schools and their supportive communities all of the appropriate autonomies and tools to self-determine and serve their students well. We must use the tool of innovation to equip and empower our schools and their communities to act for the good of our students, not to shift which adult group controls a majority of the bureaucratic red tape. We need to work with DPS Administration to clearly articulate what we hope the Denver Plan will look like at full implementation at all levels of the organization, in every director district. If it is clearly understood where we are going people will better embrace the why and the necessity of our decision making. We need to be innovative in our partnerships and align with other organizations that can help us better prepare our students and support their families beyond the classroom so that students are ready for success in the classroom.
- Intentional diversity: Craft/refine policies that reflect that diversity within our schools, at all levels, is not an option but an expectation. Review and refine recruiting, hiring, and retention policies. Review school boundaries, impact of open enrollment, work with City of Denver on neighborhood planning, etc. Many before us fought for the integration of our schools with the belief that learning together would help us live together. It is important that we are courageous enough to demand that this value be lived out in all of our schools.
- Increased equity in school funding/resourcing: Craft/refine policies that are committed to ensuring that there is equity in the percentage of PPF that is available to each school within the district no matter their designation. We cannot have a system where schools, because of their designation, are more funded than other schools. We need to continue the work of the DPS Budget Task Force, in partnership with MOP, to ensure that all schools have every dollar and resource that they need to ensure an excellent education for all students.
- Increase accountability: As stewards of the district, the DPS Board must not assume that policies are being practiced or that plans are being fully executed. There should be consistent review and necessary accountability to ensure consistent practice, adherence to policies, and execution of plans and stated priorities across the district. Grading policies, discipline policies, compliance to applicable laws, safety codes, records and reporting, etc. The saying is true, we will get what we inspect not what we expect. Accountability has to flow beyond the school as well. Parents/guardians and community must know and be held accountable for the critical roles that they play in helping students be ready for the next pathways of their lives.
- Intentional Inclusion of stakeholders: Craft/refine policies that define community engagement and set requirements/benchmarks for it related to new schools, community processes, school CSCs and/or SIACs. Craft/refine policies that make it easier for community driven organizations to engage and provide wrap around services and supports aligned with the mission of the school. Introduce new policy that increases the role of student voice via the Student Board of Education; leverage the SBOE as an advisory board where applicable issues are vetted with students and require an SBOE recommendation before being voted on by the board. Support and participate in, as requested, current engagement strategies and outreach efforts. Encourage the district administration and staff to seize more opportunities to bring the district, the school, and the classroom to the community.
- Interdependence: Each person on the board has strengths and weaknesses. Therefore the work requires interdependence among the team to be successful.We must increase our communication, allow data, research, and proven best practices, to temper our emotions and drive us to collaborate focused on better outcomes for all students. The board must always be mindful that divides only continue to delay better results for all children. We must be able to talk through our differences, respect our varied perspectives, honor our individual and collective strengths, and never lose focus that our shared responsibility is to ensure an excellent education for all children served by Denver Public Schools. If we fail to do that, we are all to blame. The 4 can’t blame the 3 and the 3 can’t blame the 4. Failing our children must rest on the conscience of the 7.
- Increase accountability: As stewards of the district, the DPS Board must not assume that policies are being practiced or that plans are being fully executed. There should be consistent review and necessary accountability to ensure consistent practice, adherence to policies, and execution of plans and stated priorities across the district. Grading policies, discipline policies, compliance to applicable laws, safety codes, records and reporting, etc. The saying is true, we will get what we inspect not what we expect. Accountability has to flow beyond the school as well. Parents/guardians and community must know and be held accountable for the critical roles that they play in helping students be ready for the next pathways of their lives.
- Intentional Inclusion of stakeholders: Craft/refine policies that define community engagement and set requirements/benchmarks for it related to new schools, community processes, school CSCs and/or SIACs. Craft/refine policies that make it easier for community driven organizations to engage and provide wrap around services and supports aligned with the mission of the school. Introduce new policy that increases the role of student voice via the Student Board of Education; leverage the SBOE as an advisory board where applicable issues are vetted with students and require an SBOE recommendation before being voted on by the board. Support and participate in, as requested, current engagement strategies and outreach efforts. Encourage the district administration and staff to seize more opportunities to bring the district, the school, and the classroom to the community.
- Interdependence: Each person on the board has strengths and weaknesses. Therefore the work requires interdependence among the team to be successful.We must increase our communication, allow data, research, and proven best practices, to temper our emotions and drive us to collaborate focused on better outcomes for all students. The board must always be mindful that divides only continue to delay better results for all children. We must be able to talk through our differences, respect our varied perspectives, honor our individual and collective strengths, and never lose focus that our shared responsibility is to ensure an excellent education for all children served by Denver Public Schools. If we fail to do that, we are all to blame. The 4 can’t blame the 3 and the 3 can’t blame the 4. Failing our children must rest on the conscience of the 7.