Take Me To Your Leader
Q&A With 10 DPS School Board Candidates
By Cara DeGette GPHN Editor
It’s a critical year for Denver Public Schools. Of seven seats on the school board, four are open. That means the political control of the state’s largest school district is up for grabs.
Park Hill voters will play a huge role in determining the outcome: The open at-large seat will be decided by a citywide vote. Districts 3 and 4, which are also open, include different parts of Park Hill.
In all, 10 candidates are running for those seats — three at-large (citywide), three in District 3 (central), and four in District 4 (northeast).
The Denver Classroom Teachers Association (the teachers’ union) has endorsed at-large candidate Amy Klein Molk, DJ Torres in District 3 and Monica Hunter in District 4. “Denver’s educators are ready for a new direction of leadership that listens to communities and delivers bold and impactful changes for our students,” said DCTA president Rob Gould.
Three other candidates — Alex Magaña, Caron Blanke and Timiya Jackson — have been endorsed by Denver Family Action, the deep-pocketed group whose stated vision is “to reposition the community as power brokers in public education in Denver.”
We asked all 10 candidates to weigh in briefly with their top priorities and positions. Click here for additional resources, including how and where to vote.
DISTRICT 4 CANDIDATES
Jeremy Harris • Monica Hunter • Timiya Jackson • Michelle Quattlebaum
Jeremy Harris • harris4dps.org • Contributions as of Sept. 15: $20,380
Jeremy Harris is the CEO of Harris Funeral Directors and parent of a DPS student.
List any public service positions you’ve held: I currently serve as communications chair for Swigert’s Parent-Teacher Association. In this role, I’ve helped strengthen family engagement and improve communication between parents, teachers and school leadership.
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Collaborative, transparent, data-driven, community-rooted, and relentlessly student-focused.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years.
• Ensuring every child reads by third grade.
• Creating safe and stable classrooms where teachers can teach and students can learn.
• Restoring trust through fiscal transparency so families know resources reach classrooms, while preparing all students with the skills, knowledge and character needed to thrive in the real world.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected? I would modernize Denver Public Schools’ outdated policy governance model. Current executive limitations and ends policies are vague and lack measurable outcomes. I will rewrite them in clear, accountable language; making equity, literacy, safety, fiscal transparency and superintendent accountability measurable priorities that families can trust and hold the board to.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. I agree with the board’s four-year pause on enrollment-based school closures. Closures have disproportionately harmed Black, Brown, and low-income communities while failing to address deeper systemic issues. Families deserve stability, meaningful engagement and the opportunity to shape the future of their neighborhood schools through transparent, inclusive and equitable decision-making.
Michelle Quattlebaum • quattlebaum4denverkids.com • Contributions as of Sept. 15: $7,177
Past and current public service positions: I currently serve as District 4 director on the DPS board. Previously, I worked on the One George Committee at George Washington High School, on the strengthening neighborhoods committees, and Building Bridges, advancing equity, collaboration and community.
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Collaborative, transparent, equity-centered, accountable, community-centered and fun.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years. Strengthening student and staff mental health supports, ensuring equity and excellence in every classroom, and addressing class size safety.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected? I continue to be committed to strengthening accountability and transparency, ensuring families, students and educators have a meaningful voice in DPS.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. I sponsored the policy that requires board members to engage the community before advancing new policies. Those most impacted — families, students, and educators — deserve a fundamental role in shaping solutions.
Timiya Jackson • jackson4dps.com • Contributions as of Sept. 15: $17,236
Previous public service positions: I currently serve as the youth violence prevention program administrator for the City of Aurora, where I lead initiatives to support young people, reduce barriers to opportunity, and create safer communities. Previously, I worked as a re-engagement specialist with the Douglas County School District, helping students overcome obstacles to stay in school and succeed.
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Collaborative, transparent, equity-driven, accountable, and focused on students.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years.
• Student achievement: I will push for evidence-based strategies that improve literacy, math, and college and career-readiness.
• Transparency: Families deserve honest information about how our schools are performing. I will work to ensure school data is clear, easy to understand, and accessible.
• Accountability: the superintendent, the board, and myself must all be accountable to results. I will set high expectations and ensure DPS leadership is focused on improving outcomes.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected? Board members need to know what is happening in the district. Right now, the board requires a quorum of three members to request student performance data. I would change this policy so that board members can provide true oversight and ensure accountability for student outcomes.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. I agree with the board’s adoption of the Safe and Welcoming School District resolution. It was right to reaffirm that every student — regardless of immigration status, race, or creed — has the right to a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment.
Monica Hunter • monica4denver.org • Contributions as of Sept. 2: $3,990
Monica Hunter is a Denver native. She is the founding director of Human & Civil Rights for the Colorado Education Association and a former teacher. She is a former teacher and building representative and is raising a blended family with her partner.
Previous public service positions:
• Taught in District 4, serving students in Central Park, Montbello and Green Valley.
• Founded a safe space for Black educators during a time when retention in DPS was at a historic low.
• Co-founded the Black Parent Network, and serve in my children’s schools.
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Collaborative and innovative; I see possibilities instead of challenges.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years.
• Protecting public funding: Public schools remain under attack and underfunded. Without board members willing to lobby for increased funding and prevent budget stabilization deficits, progress is impossible.
• Closing literacy gaps: DPS literacy gaps, especially for Black students, must be addressed by engaging students and prioritizing the science of reading.
• Elevating mental health and wellness: Many schools lack nurses, psychologists, and therapists. Mental health must be prioritized to ensure safe, supportive schools.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected?
• The DPS discipline matrix needs stronger administrator accountability and expanded mental health resources.
• The school transformation policy should shift from closures to community school models with wraparound services, literacy and math supports. Schools need investment, not closure.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. The Safe and Welcoming School District policy, which protects all students’ rights regardless of immigration status, national origin, religion or race.
DISTRICT 3 CANDIDATES
Caron Blanke • Scott Esserman • DJ Torres
DJ Torres • djfordenver.com • Contributions as of Sept. 15: $28,347
Biography
DJ Torres is a parent of a DPS student and former special educator. He has worked in the nonprofit sector, with gun violence prevention, school safety, and mental health organizations.
Past public service positions:
• Vice President of National School Safety Programs, Sandy Hook Promise
• Deputy Chief Equity Officer, City and County of Denver
• Director of Special Equity Programs, Denver Public Schools
• Chair, McMeen Elementary Collaborative School Committee
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Inclusive, transparent, collaborative, equity-focused, accountable, and community-driven.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years.
• Rebuild trust through transparency and authentic community engagement.
• Strengthen educator support and retention to improve academic outcomes.
• Ensure safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for all students.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected? I would strengthen accountability by requiring clearer data measures that demonstrate student growth, educator success, and the effectiveness of support structures. I would also embed meaningful community engagement into policy governance so families, educators and community members have a stronger voice in shaping board decisions.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. I support the expansion of mental health resources for students, including additional school-based counselors and social workers, as a critical step toward improving safety, belonging and academic success.
Scott Esserman • esserman4denverkids.com • Contributions as of Sept. 15: $14,059
Biography: Scott Esserman is currently an at-large DPS board member. He is the parent of two DPS students and describes himself as a lifelong educator and coach.
Public service positions that you’ve held. DPS Finance and Audit committee; member of the Bond Oversight committee since 2021; Serve on the Denver city/DPS coordinating committee; Denver Urban Renewal Authority board for two years; DPS District Accountability Committee; Collaborative School Committees (and chair) at all of my kids’ schools; Volunteered for over 15 summers at Sky High Hope Camps; Member of the Temple Emanuel Board of Directors for six years.
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Visionary, community-focused, and driven by practical solutions.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years.
• Continued academic growth and performance of all students including special education students, English language learners and those from historically marginalized communities.
• Ensuring that we continue to provide safe and welcoming schools in particular under continued attack from Trump and the federal government, including our LGBTQ+ and immigrant community members.
• Expanding trust with the broad DPS community while pursuing adequate state funding.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected?
• Right-sizing class size and student/teacher ratios.
• Setting clear expectations for the superintendent on community engagement.
• Ensuring that we are considering measures of academic success that expand beyond standardized testing.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. Establishing a minimum wage of $20 for all hourly workers including paraprofessionals, office workers and food service workers.
Caron Blanke • caron4change.com • Contributions as of Sept. 15: $39,055
Caron Blank has master’s degrees in social work and nonprofit leadership. She has worked in Jewish Community Centers around the country, including as director of the JCC Early Learning School in Denver. She is a parent of three DPS students and lives with her family in Lowry.
Previous public service positions: Spent 25-plus years working in the nonprofit sector as a professional and volunteer leader.
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Integrity, transparency and accountability. Every child seen — every school supported.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years.
• Improve unacceptable academic outcomes, especially for low income students and students of color. Mental health and safety must be addressed in order to increase academic outcomes.
• Restore a healthy governance model to the governance structure of the board so that we lead with transparent, stronger, more consistent oversight of the superintendent. Accountability must be dramatically improved.
• Listen to community. Families and educators have lost trust due to low transparency and no data access. Their feedback must be valued and used in district decision-making.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected? Public comment sessions must be improved so that the board can hear from the DPS family. A system for responding to families, educators and students must be created so that community members don’t have to wonder whether the board is listening. There should not be a policy that requires three formal votes from board members to get information from the superintendent or his staff. This policy implies distrust and stops board members from making data-driven decisions. The board is functioning in the dark, and can’t be relied on to do their jobs without complete information.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. I can’t think of even one policy that I agree with that the board has passed in the last two years.
AT-LARGE CANDIDATES
Deborah Sims Fard • Alex Magana • Amy Klein Molk
Amy Klein Molk • amy4denver.com •Contributions as of Sept. 15: $42,124
Public service positions/experience:
• Special education paraprofessional, Denver Public Schools
• PTO chair, Polaris Elementary
• Mentor and program leader, Boys & Girls Club and Syracuse Community Center
• Advocate leadership roles in support of nonprofit youth organizations (HeadStart, PS Arts, St. Jude Research Hospital, etc.)
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Collaborative, transparent, equity-driven, community-centered, innovative, solutions-focused.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years.
• Strengthen neighborhood schools: invest in safe buildings, core academics and enrichment so every child has access to a great school in their community.
• Support and retain educators: ensure competitive pay, manageable class sizes and respect for teachers’ voices in decision-making.
• Rebuild trust with students and families: foster transparency, community engagement and policies that prioritize equity and student well-being.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected? I would seek to change the policy of closing schools in response to declining enrollment, which has destabilized communities and deepened inequities. Instead, I would advocate for policies that strengthen schools, keep them open, and work collaboratively with families on sustainable, student-centered solutions.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. I agree with the board’s decision to reinstate school resource officers (SROs) after the tragedy at East High. At the same time, we must ensure SROs are fully integrated into our school culture and community as mentors and safeguards — not as enforcers of discipline. Our priority should be investing in more trauma-informed school psychologists and counselors, expanding restorative justice practices and building a safe, supportive environment.
Alex Magaña • alexmagana4dps.com • Contributions as of Sept. 15: $33,826
Basic bio: Alex Magaña is a DPS parent and has 25 years experience in education, including as a teacher, principal and executive principal. He co-created Colorado’s first Innovation Zone designed to turn around struggling schools.
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held. Sous chef, accountant, public school teacher, education coach, assistant principal, principal, executive principal.
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. Collaborative, student-centered, innovative, resilient, equity-driven, accountable, community-focused.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years. Safe, welcoming schools built on a shared vision. Stronger academics with clear goals and teacher support. Families and communities shaping decisions and direction.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected? I would start by changing the board’s governance policy to ensure we focus on accountability and results. I’d also push to fix how DPS handles school closures, making sure families and teachers are part of the process from the start. And I’d fight for a budget policy that puts dollars where they matter most, in classrooms and in the hands of educators. Those changes would build trust, improve outcomes, and keep the focus on students.
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. The board has been commendable in its efforts to push back against the Trump administration, something I will continue to do.
Deborah Sims Fard • deborah4schoolboard.org • Contributions as of Sept. 15: $0
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held. North City Park Civic Association president and vice president.
Describe your style of leadership, in 10 words or less. I consider myself a Democratic and transformational leader.
Identify your top three priorities for the district over the next four years.
• Safer classrooms.
• Increased teacher supports.
• Policy informed through the lens of equity.
What existing DPS policy/policies would you seek to change if elected?
• School closures
• Community/family engagement
Identify one policy or change that the current DPS board has adopted over the past two years that you AGREE with. Board governance.