Why We're Grateful

Fall | Issue 40 | Date: November 17, 2023

Funding Great Schools. Rooted in Community.

Why We're Grateful

This is often a season of reflection and gratitude. As our team looks back, we recognize countless reasons—both professional and personal—to be grateful.

We are, of course, grateful for our ability to provide funding for, facilitate connections among, and collaborate with advocacy organizations, schools and communities in Denver.

We're also grateful for the relationships we've nurtured, the leaders who have inspired us, and the communities we serve.

Read on to see some of the people and organizations we're most grateful for this year.

17 Denver Charter School Renewals are Approved; Board of Ed Rejects Superintendent's Recommendation to Close Academy 360

The Denver Public Schools Board of Education voted 5-2 on Nov. 16 to reject Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero's recommendation to close Academy 360, a public charter school in Montbello.

The board also voted to approve the renewal applications for 17 public charter schools in Denver.

Academy 360 was the only school facing nonrenewal, and in an earlier meeting, several members of the board of education expressed concern about the superintendent's recommendation.

According to Chalkbeat: "Board members worried that closing the school—where 88% of students are students of color, 78% come from low-income families, and 24% have disabilities—would be deeply disruptive to a community that one board member described as having 'need upon need upon need.'"

Must Read: An Alumni Shares His Experience as an Undocumented Student

Brayan Montes-Terrazas, a Denver Public Schools alumni and Denver-based artist, wrote a powerful essay for Boardhawk about his experience as an undocumented student.

In it, he writes about being unable to attend a field trip because of the risk it might pose to his undocumented family. He tells about how he came to understand his undocumented status, and how it affected his experience in higher education.

“Some of my closest friends became the bearers of the same weight I carried; they knew what it felt like to be excluded,” he writes.

Brayan, who creates art for his YAMZ brand, also made an original illustration (above) to accompany his essay.

Read Brayan's Essay in Boardhawk

Voters Elect New Members to the Denver Public Schools Board of Education

Congratulations to Marlene De La Rosa, Kimberlee Sia and John Youngquist, who were elected to the Denver Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday, Nov 7.

Marlene will represent District 5; Kimberlee will represent District 1; and John will represent the district at-large.

Marlene, Kimberly and John have deep connections to Denver Public Schools and are committed to supporting safe learning environments where students can thrive academically and emotionally.

We're excited to welcome Marlene, Kimberlee and John to the board. We’re looking forward to working with them and their colleagues to improve outcomes for Denver’s students.

Don't Miss the Denver Education Vision Project's November Virtual Event

Save the date. The Denver Education Vision Project is hosting its last virtual event of 2023 on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

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 the meeting, you can hear from members of the Denver Education Vision Project’s strategy team, share which parts of the vision resonate most with you, and share what changes you’d like to see when the vision becomes reality.

Can’t make it? There are other ways you can get involved:

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.