Denver school board candidates answer three key questions from ALG

Pivotal elections for four seats on the Denver school board take place in early November, with ballots already in the hands of voters. 

The African Leadership Group reached out to all candidates with a list of questions on issues important to our members. Some candidates responded with thoughtful answers. Others failed to answer, which we find disappointing and also a signal to voters about the likely responsiveness of these candidates should they win a seat.

In Denver, the seven-member board consists of five seats from geographic districts, and two at-large (citywide). This year, one at-large seat is up for election, as are seats in District 2 (Southwest Denver), District 3 (Central Denver), and District 5 (Northeast and Far Northeast Denver)

Here are the questions and the answers we have received as of early Wednesday. If additional candidates respond, we will add their answers as we receive them.

At-large (citywide)

Alex Magana

1. What specific steps would you take to address long-standing inequities in DPS, in particular the persistent achievement gaps?

To close persistent achievement gaps, I would focus on equitable resource allocation, stronger early literacy interventions, and culturally responsive teaching. We must set clear district goals for growth across all student groups, especially multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and students of color, and hold ourselves accountable through transparent reporting. At Grant and Kepner Beacon, we used real time data, enrichments, and targeted interventions that led to some of the highest growth rates in Denver. We also built bilingual family engagement systems so parents could help reinforce learning at home. Those same strategies—early supports, teacher collaboration, and family partnership—can be scaled districtwide to disrupt inequities that have lasted far too long.

2. What specific steps would you take to ensure that the district and board behave in a more transparent manner, to rebuild community trust?

Rebuilding trust starts with transparency and consistent communication. I would require that major board decisions such as budgets, contracts, and policies be shared in plain language and translated for our multilingual families. We need to follow open meeting laws rigorously and post materials early so the community can engage meaningfully, not react after the fact. When I led Beacon Network Schools, every decision from schedules to budgets was shared with our Teacher and Parent Councils before final approval. That same approach of shared decision making and clear reporting should guide the board’s work. Families should not have to dig to understand what is happening in their district; we owe them clarity, consistency, and accountability.

3. What specific additional steps can DPS take to make sure students and families feel safe in the schools? Please address fears of immigrant communities as well as overall safety concerns tied to gun violence, etc.

Safety means more than preventing violence, it is about emotional security, trust, and belonging. We need consistent safety protocols, stronger mental health supports, and partnerships with community organizations to keep schools safe without over policing. For immigrant families, fear often extends beyond the school walls. DPS must reaffirm that every child, regardless of immigration status, is protected and welcome, and staff must be trained to respond with cultural sensitivity. In our schools, we combined restorative practices with clear expectations, used resources such as Safe 2 Tell, partnered with the city of Denver and built relationships that prevented conflicts before they escalated. Every DPS school should feel like that, a place where students are physically safe, emotionally supported, and never afraid to show up as themselves.

Amy Klein Molk

1. What specific steps would you take to address long-standing inequities in DPS, in particular the persistent achievement gaps?

Denver has some of the widest opportunity gaps in the state, and we can’t close them with rhetoric; we need accountability and targeted investment. I would direct resources based on student need, not averages, ensuring that schools serving multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and those from low-income families receive the strongest support in staffing, tutoring, and early literacy. We must also expand inclusive classrooms, bilingual pathways, and mentorship programs that help every student feel seen and supported. A key part of this work is recruiting and retaining teachers and staff who reflect the diversity of our students by investing in “grow-your-own” pipelines from paraprofessionals to licensed educators and providing the professional pay, respect, and working conditions that help great teachers stay.

2. What specific steps would you take to ensure that the district and board behave in a more transparent manner, to rebuild community trust?

Rebuilding trust through transparency is one of my top priorities. Families and educators deserve clear, accessible information about how decisions are made and where resources go. I would require that board agendas, contracts, and spending reports be shared publicly in plain language and multiple languages, with real-time updates on student outcomes, staffing, and safety. I would also strengthen community voice by creating standing parent, educator, and student advisory councils whose feedback is publicly acknowledged and acted upon. Finally, I believe board members must model transparency themselves by holding open meetings, sharing rationale behind major votes, and communicating consistently and honestly with the communities we serve.

3. What specific additional steps can DPS take to make sure students and families feel safe in the schools? Please address fears of immigrant communities as well as overall safety concerns tied to gun violence, etc.

Creating safe, welcoming schools for every student and family is one of my top priorities. That starts with prevention -fully staffing mental-health teams, improving threat-assessment protocols, and ensuring every school has trusted adults trained in restorative practices and trauma-informed care. We must also ensure that any School Resource Officers are carefully selected, well-trained, and integrated into the school community as mentors, not disciplinarians. For our immigrant families, DPS should reaffirm that schools are safe spaces, never cooperating with civil immigration enforcement and providing translation, know-your-rights education, and culturally trusted liaisons. Teachers and staff should receive ongoing training on how to support immigrant and multilingual families with empathy, confidentiality, and respect. Finally, I would support partnerships for gun-violence prevention, safe-storage education, and transparent communication so families always know what’s being done to keep their children safe.

District 2 (southwest Denver)

Xochitl Gaytan (incumbent)
FAILED TO RESPOND

Mariana del Hierro

1. What specific steps would you take to address long-standing inequities in DPS, in particular the persistent achievement gaps?

For too long, our district has talked about equity without building the systems to sustain it. I’ll work to shift that by centering resources where they’re needed most — in classrooms, supporting educators, and addressing the barriers students face outside of school. That means expanding culturally responsive teaching, fully funding multilingual and special education programs, and strengthening wraparound supports like mental health services, after-school care, and family engagement.

I’ll also push for transparent data on how resources are allocated and ensure those decisions include the voices of students, families, and educators from historically underserved communities. True equity requires both investment and accountability — and that starts with listening and acting alongside the communities most affected.

2. What specific steps would you take to ensure that the district and board behave in a more transparent manner, to rebuild community trust?

Trust starts with honesty and openness. The board needs to model that by making information accessible and decisions understandable to every family — not hidden behind jargon or closed meetings.

I’ll advocate for regular community briefings, transparent public reporting on district spending and outcomes, and multilingual communication so all families can engage meaningfully. We also need to create real feedback loops — not just public comment — where community input informs decisions before votes are taken.

My approach will be rooted in transparency, collaboration, and accountability, because when families and educators feel heard, we can rebuild the trust that our schools depend on.

3. What specific additional steps can DPS take to make sure students and families feel safe in the schools? Please address fears of immigrant communities as well as overall safety concerns tied to gun violence, etc.

Every student and family deserves to feel safe in their school — emotionally, physically, and culturally. For many immigrant families in Denver, that sense of safety is often undermined by fear of deportation, ICE activity, or the possibility of being targeted just for showing up. No parent should have to second-guess whether they can pick up their child or attend a school meeting without fearing separation from their family.

I will work to ensure that Denver Public Schools remain a place where families are protected, welcomed, and informed. That means strengthening partnerships with trusted community organizations that provide immigration resources, expanding multilingual communication so families understand their rights, and making sure all school staff are trained to respond with compassion and confidentiality when immigration-related issues arise. Our schools must be safe zones — never places for enforcement or intimidation.

Safety also involves tackling the larger crises of gun violence and mental health that impact every student. I’ll advocate for trauma-informed practices, accessible counseling, and early-intervention programs that address root causes before crises occur. I’ll also push for more education about safe firearm storage, greater collaboration with city and state partners, and ongoing investment in violence prevention programs that elevate youth voices and community leadership.

Ultimately, true safety depends on trust and a sense of belonging. Our schools must be spaces where families — regardless of immigration status, language, or background — know they are valued, protected, and free to fully participate in their children’s education. When we build that trust, we strengthen not only school safety but the very fabric of our city.

District 3 (central Denver)

Scott Esserman (Incumbent at-large director; switched to run in District 3)
FAILED TO RESPOND

Dr. DJ Torres
FAILED TO RESPOND

Caron Blanke

1. What specific steps would you take to address long-standing inequities in DPS, in particular the persistent achievement gaps?

This inequity has plagued DPS for far too long and actionable plans must be created. What is critical to this process is meeting people where they are in community to hear directly from them about what has worked well and where challenges must be addressed. Trust and authentic relationships must be constantly built where reciprocal dialog can take place. As an early childhood leader, I believe strongly in the power of early literacy and strong early childhood programs. We know that the first 5 years of life are critical for brain development. Early literacy experiences during this time can have a huge impact on a child’s ability to read and be a successful learner. We need to develop more and stronger early childhood programs that provide affordable access with extended hours for all families in all neighborhoods. We need to bring school leaders together to learn from one another so that schools that are successfully educating students of color can share their instructional approach. We need comprehensive training for all school professionals on culturally responsive practice. Students need access to high quality learning materials that represent their lived experience. We need to recruit and find ways to retain more teachers of color. We need more school psychologists who can provide learning evaluations when necessary and invest in resources to support reading and math intervention beginning as early as possible.

2. What specific steps would you take to ensure that the district and board behave in a more transparent manner, to rebuild community trust?

First the board must establish a healthier governance model to ensure accountability and provide oversight. They must roll back policies that restrict access to information; insisting on full, timely access to all key data and regularly audit progress. Second, board members must shed personal agendas and unite around shared values, student outcomes, resisting any pressure that undermines their duty. The board should initiate a performance review of the superintendent that involves stakeholder input to receive a comprehensive set of data points for evaluation. The board should create very specific ways to engage in meaningful dialog with community members for both listening and to share transparently what the board is thinking about and discussing. They need to provide more opportunities for public comment and ways to follow-up with people who speak so that they don’t feel their comments are going into the void. The board should improve their systems of receiving emails to ensure consistent and timely responses to community inquiries. Board members should visit schools more often and hear directly from staff students and families. District supervisors should play a strong role in School Collaboration Committees and regularly report their findings to the board. The FACE office should report directly to the board.

3. What specific additional steps can DPS take to make sure students and families feel safe in the schools? Please address fears of immigrant communities as well as overall safety concerns tied to gun violence, etc.

Safety should be non-negotiable in our schools today. True safety is a complex concept that has physical and psychological aspects. Safety includes protection from physical harm, but it is also having people you trust who will listen to you; feeling respected and seen. Safety has to involve community voice; solutions to fixing safety threats aren’t always “one size fits all.” Safety for new to country students and families is hugely important and the board needs to ensure that school leaders are implementing and following the district immigration policies to protect students. We need better dialogue with communities to understand root causes of safety threats to know how to address the challenges in community-specific ways. Transparency on the current state of safety in our schools is also critical. We need to be proactive to address root causes and use data to inform policy. I believe SROs should be in schools to serve NOT as disciplinarians or to catch kids violating rules but to be truly integrated into the school community where they build trust and relationships with students to keep them safe. We need to loudly advocate to our national leaders that we MUST have actual gun control laws that get guns out of the hands of students. Transparent communication is critical when it comes to matters of safety and the district needs to do a better job of proactively communicating with families about its safety plans. The discipline matrix needs to be re-examined with community input. Overall, there should be a much more thorough and thoughtful process to improve school and district safety plans with meaningful allocations of financial resources.

District 5 (Northeast and Far Northeast Denver)

Monica Hunter
FAILED TO RESPOND

Michelle Quattlebaum (incumbent)

1. What specific steps would you take to address long-standing inequities in DPS, in particular the persistent achievement gaps?

We are already taking real steps to close achievement gaps in DPS and must continue the proven strategies that work. We’re implementing the Dr. Sharon Bailey and La Raza Reports with clear accountability benchmarks, supporting educators through fair pay and professional growth, and expanding access to mental health and culturally responsive supports. By focusing on high-quality instruction, we’re seeing measurable progress. Equity must remain at the center of every decision to ensure every student thrives.

2. What specific steps would you take to ensure that the district and board behave in a more transparent manner, to rebuild community trust?

Trust and transparency begin with presenting information in a format that is clear, accessible, and easy for families and community members to understand. That’s why I sponsored the Community Engagement Policy and will continue refining it to reflect the evolving needs of our community. We are improving how data, budgets, and policies are shared so everyone can see how decisions are made. By communicating openly and clearly, we build lasting trust and ensure our actions reflect the voices we serve.

3. What specific additional steps can DPS take to make sure students and families feel safe in the schools? Please address fears of immigrant communities as well as overall safety concerns tied to gun violence, etc.

Safety begins with trust, care, and community. DPS must continue strengthening mental health supports, expanding restorative practices, and training staff to de-escalate conflict and build belonging. For our immigrant families, we must ensure schools are safe spaces, free from fear and discrimination, through multilingual communication and privacy protections. I also championed the districtwide building safety assessments and will continue advocating for proactive strategies to prevent gun violence and ensure every student feels safe and supported.

Timiya Jackson

1. What specific steps would you take to address long-standing inequities in DPS, in particular the persistent achievement gaps?

As a parent, educator, and youth advocate, I understand how deeply inequities show up in classrooms. From inconsistent access to reading support to limited opportunities for students to explore college or career pathways, roadblocks to student success for children from marginalized communities continue to be an issue of paramount importance. Addressing achievement gaps starts with investing where the needs are greatest. I will champion data-driven equity audits that show, in plain language, how resources are being distributed and whether they’re reaching multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and students of color who’ve historically been underserved. We must direct more funding toward early literacy, tutoring, and culturally responsive curriculum, ensuring that students see themselves reflected in what they learn.

But funding alone is not enough. I will push for accountability systems that track progress on closing opportunity gaps, publicly report outcomes, and include educators and families in shaping interventions. Equity also means listening, like holding school-based forums where communities can identify what’s working and where we must do better. My goal is to make equity not just a promise, but a measurable practice that guides every budget and policy decision in DPS.

2. What specific steps would you take to ensure that the district and board behave in a more transparent manner, to rebuild community trust?

Families and educators deserve honesty, clarity, and inclusion, instead of last-minute votes or closed-door decisions with only a quorum of the board present. As a board member, I will lead with transparency by ensuring that all major policy changes are communicated in plain language and shared well before any vote. That means publishing summaries of proposed actions, financial reports, and equity data on an accessible public dashboard, and holding regular community listening sessions so that feedback comes before decisions are made.

Transparency is also about accountability in practice. I will advocate for an annual “State of the District” report that measures progress toward stated goals and includes clear follow-up actions. I’ve spent my career bringing partners together to solve problems collaboratively, and I will bring that same approach to board governance: building structures where students, families, and educators have a seat at the table. Rebuilding trust will take time, but it begins with showing up consistently, communicating openly, and demonstrating through action that community voice drives the work.

3. What specific additional steps can DPS take to make sure students and families feel safe in the schools? Please address fears of immigrant communities as well as overall safety concerns tied to gun violence, etc.

Safety is both physical and emotional. As the City of Aurora’s Youth Violence Prevention Program Administrator, I’ve seen that real safety comes from prevention, connection, and belonging, instead of fear or punishment. DPS must expand mental health supports, peer mentorship, and restorative practices that help students resolve conflict before it escalates. Every school should have a trained mental health professional, and the district must ensure that safety protocols, like secure entry systems and emergency drills, are implemented consistently and communicated clearly with families.

For immigrant communities, safety also means protection from intimidation and deportation threats. I will continue to uphold DPS’s strong sanctuary policies that prohibit ICE activity on school grounds without a warrant and ensure staff are trained to respond if federal agents attempt enforcement. No child should fear coming to school because of their family’s immigration status. Finally, I’ll work with city and community partners to strengthen violence-prevention networks and support students impacted by trauma. Safety must be grounded in dignity where every student, regardless of background, feels secure, respected, and prepared to learn.

Jeremy Harris

1. What specific steps would you take to address long-standing inequities in DPS, in particular the persistent achievement gaps?

Denver Public Schools has talked about equity for years, but we’ve failed to deliver measurable progress. Only 38% of students are proficient in reading and math, and Black and Brown students continue to fall behind. To change that, I will focus on outcomes, not optics. First, I will establish a districtwide Early Literacy Guarantee that ensures every student can read on grade level by the end of third grade through structured literacy, small-group intervention, and continuous progress monitoring. Second, I will advocate for weighted student funding so schools that serve higher percentages of English learners, students with disabilities, or low-income families receive additional, trackable resources. Third, I will require that principals and teachers use real-time data to adjust instruction and that the board publicly reviews that data each quarter. Finally, we must hold leadership accountable, if achievement gaps don’t narrow, policies and positions must change. Equity isn’t a slogan; it’s measurable progress for every child.

2. What specific steps would you take to ensure that the district and board behave in a more transparent manner, to rebuild community trust?

Transparency starts with governance. I will require that all board discussions about contracts, evaluations, and superintendent performance happen in public view, not behind closed doors. The community has a right to know how decisions are made and how funds are spent. I will also push for an online accountability dashboard that shows school performance, spending by site, safety incidents, and progress toward district goals. Families should be able to see where their tax dollars go and whether policies are working. I will advocate for regular town halls and parent advisory councils in every region so families can ask questions directly and influence decisions before votes occur. The board must model the honesty, professionalism, and transparency that we expect from our schools.

3. What specific additional steps can DPS take to make sure students and families feel safe in the schools? Please address fears of immigrant communities as well as overall safety concerns tied to gun violence, etc.

Every student deserves to feel safe, physically, emotionally, and culturally, when they walk through the school doors. To achieve that, I will make safety a year-round priority rather than a reaction to crisis. First, I support permanent School Resource Officers in middle and high schools, trained law enforcement officers who build trust, deter violence, and protect students. Second, I will launch weapons-detection pilots and safety audits in schools with the highest risks, using existing security funds to do it responsibly. Third, I will strengthen the Discipline Matrix to ensure consistent enforcement while maintaining fairness and restorative options for students with disabilities or trauma histories.

For our immigrant families, safety also means trust. I will direct the district to clearly communicate that DPS schools are safe zones where immigration enforcement is not permitted and that family information will not be shared with federal authorities. We must train staff to support multilingual families and to respond sensitively when immigration concerns arise.

Safety and belonging go hand in hand. My goal is to make every DPS school a place where parents feel confident dropping off their children, teachers feel supported, and students know that adults are ready to protect, guide, and believe in them.