Fall | Issue 38 | Date: September 28, 2023

Funding Great Schools. Rooted in Community. 

RMP Creekside Student Reads 1 Million Words in

First Two Weeks of School

Kiruvel Girmachew, a fifth-grade student at Rocky Mountain Prep’s Creekside campus, wowed his school (and the governor!) by reading one million words in the first two weeks of school. 

"When I read, it kind of feels like I am watching a movie in my mind,” Kiruvel told CBS News Colorado in an interview on International Literacy Day (Sept. 8).

Kiruvel’s achievement checks one of Rocky Mountain Prep’s Big Five Goals off the fifth-grader’s to-do list. As part of its commitment to literacy and encouraging students to achieve at new heights, the public charter network has set an ambitious goal for all third through fifth grade students: to read one million words by the end of the school year. 

Kiruvel’s big win even caught the attention of Gov. Jared Polis, who celebrated Kiruvel’s accomplishment on social media.

RMP Sunnyside Teacher is a Finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year

Rawa Abu Alsamah, a middle school special education teacher at Rocky Mountain Prep’s Sunnyside campus, is one of seven finalists for the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year award. 

Rawa made history as the first Saudi Arabian woman to earn a master’s degree with honors in educational equity and cultural diversity from the University of Colorado-Boulder’s School of Education. 

The Colorado Department of Education says Rawa’s colleagues have recognized her for her ability to use “her own diverse experience to help students think about the world critically and through a culturally diverse lens.” 

Rawa was recognized last year as an education ambassador for STRIVE Prep schools, which are now part of the Rocky Mountain Prep network. 

Bill Kurtz, the chief executive officer of DSST Public Schools, is stepping down after 20 years of leading the public charter school network and serving Denver’s students. 

“DSST is ready for a new leader to take DSST to greater heights,” Bill wrote in a letter to DSST families. “We have an incredible team in place, a compelling five-year strategic plan and a strong core to continue to guide who we are and what we do. I have great confidence in the future of DSST.”

Under Bill’s leadership, DSST has grown from a single school serving a 9th grade class of 129 students to 16 schools with a staff of 900, serving 7,200 students.

The 2023-24 school year will be Bill’s last year and his best year yet, he wrote, noting that his focus will continue to be “serving our 7,200 students with excellence.”

Gloria Zamora, chair of the DSST board of directors, praised Bill’s leadership. 

“Bill has inspired a whole community of students, their families and staff to work toward a vision to transform urban public education by eliminating educational inequity and preparing all students for success in college and the 21st century,” she wrote. 

RootED thanks Bill for his two decades of service to Denver’s students and families, and our team wishes him well as he pursues new challenges and opportunities.

Are You Registered to Vote?

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7

School board elections are critical to our communities. The Denver Public Schools Board of Education sets the leadership tone, and the vision, strategy and policies that directly impact hundreds of schools, and tens of thousands of students, educators and families. 

With Election Day fast approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 7, it’s important you’re informed and engaged. 

This election cycle, there are nine candidates running for three seats on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. 

RootED Denver has compiled information and resources to help you prepare to cast your ballot. Learn more below. 

Where can I learn more about school board candidates?

• Join FaithBridge for its School Board Talks series at locations throughout Denver. 
• Tuesday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m. at Montbello High School (5000 Crown Blvd., 80239)
• Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m. at West High School (951 Elati St., 80204)
• Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. at George Washington High School (655 S Monaco Parkway, 80224)



• RSVP for an upcoming candidate forum:
• Join the Latino Education Coalition and Servicio Sigue for a candidate forum with at-large and District 5 candidates on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 12-2 p.m., at El Centro del Barrio (1351 W 39th Ave., 80211); childcare, Spanish translation and light food and refreshments will be provided.
• Join Regis University and EDUCATE Denver for a candidate forum on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 7-9 p.m., at Regis University (222 Regis Blvd., 80221; Peter Claver Hall, Mountain View Room); Spanish and American Sign Language translation, and light food and refreshments will be provided.
• Join YAASPA for a youth-led candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 20, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., at Manual High School (1700 E 28th Ave., 80205); childcare, Spanish translation and light food and refreshments will be provided.
• Join Transform Education Now, Ednium, FaithBridge, STAND for Children, Our Turn, and the African Leadership Group for a candidate forum on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 5-7 p.m., at Hamilton Middle School (8600 E Dartmouth Ave., 80231); childcare, Spanish translation and light food and refreshments will be provided.

Quick links to resources

• Complete your voter registration online. 
• Update your voter registration—including your address or party affiliation—online. 
• Look up your voter registration status online.
• Find important dates and deadlines. 
• Find your in-person polling place. 
• Find Denver drop-off locations for mail-in ballots. Your mail-in ballot must be received by your county clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7. 
• Use BallotTrax to track your ballot.

The Denver Education Vision Project hosted a virtual event Tuesday, Sept. 26, to share its work and hear from families, students and community members. 

The exciting new citywide campaign has shared a vision for the future of education that would lead to more equitable outcomes through Denver’s public school system. 

During Tuesday’s event, participants talked about which parts of the vision resonated most, and what changes they would like to see when the vision becomes reality. 

Couldn’t attend Tuesday’s event? There are more opportunities to get involved and share your voice. 

• Join us for other virtual conversations about our vision for education in Denver. 
• Oct. 25, 4:30-5:30 p.m. 
• Nov. 30, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

• Sign up to receive emails about the Denver Education Vision Project.

• Share your own story of your education experience in Denver.

• Visit the Denver Education Vision Project website and read the vision team’s report.

Oct. 2

Denver Public Schools Finance and Audit Committee Meeting

Oct. 3

FaithBridge School Board Talks Series (6 p.m. at Montbello High School, 5000 Crown Blvd., 80239)

Oct. 5

Denver Public Schools Board of Education Work Session

Oct. 7

Ednium Alumni Basketball Tournament and Fall Fest (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at George Washington High School, 655 S Monaco Parkway, 80224)

Oct. 7

Denver Public Schools Board of Education Candidate Forum (12-2 p.m., at El Centro del Barrio, 1351 W 39th Ave., 80211)

Oct. 9

Colorado League of Charter Schools Leadership Summit

Oct. 10

FaithBridge School Board Talks Series (6 p.m. at West High School, 951 Elati St., 80204)

Oct. 11

Denver Public Schools Board of Education Candidate Forum (7-9 p.m., at Regis University, 222 Regis Blvd., 80221; Peter Claver Hall, Mountain View Room)

Oct. 16

Denver Public Schools Board of Education Public Comment Session and Progress Monitoring Session

Oct. 17

FaithBridge School Board Talks Series (6 p.m. at George Washington High School, 655 S Monaco Parkway, 80224)

Oct. 19

Denver Public Schools Board of Education Board Meeting

Oct. 20

Denver Public Schools Board of Education Candidate Forum (5:30-8:30 p.m., at Manual High School, 1700 E 28th Ave., 80205)

Oct. 24

Denver Public Schools Board of Education Candidate Forum (5-7 p.m., at Hamilton Middle School, 8600 E Dartmouth Ave., 80231)