Colorado Politics

Three new directors poised to join Denver public schools board of education

Three new board members supported by a pro-charter school group that hopes to alter the direction of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, which has been marred by personality conflicts, will be sworn in on Tuesday.

The local teachers’ union – credited with flipping the board in 2019 that shifted the balance of power from the reformists to a traditional model – supports each serving board member, including the two incumbents who were not re-elected.

John Youngquist, a former East High School principal, will raise his hand on Tuesday along with Marlene De La Rosa and Kimberlee Sia.

Youngquist will fill the at-large seat held by outgoing Board Vice President Auon’tai Anderson.

Anderson dropped out of the school board race in June to run for House of Representatives District 8, which is held by state Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. Herod will be term-limited next year.

Anderson’s seat had attracted six candidates, including Kwame Spearman, a Tattered Cover co-owner, who also made an unsuccessful bid for mayor.

DeLaRosa and Sia both unseated incumbents.

DeLaRosa bested Director Charmaine Lindsay, who represents District 5, while Sia beat out District 1 Director Scott Baldermann.

Spending for the school board election exceeded $1.3 million, most of it from dark money.

While not the most expensive school board race in Denver’s history, this year’s spending was notable for a television ad with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who took the unprecedented step of endorsing candidates (Youngquist, DeLaRosa and Sia).

The Better Leaders, Stronger Schools committee – a political arm of Denver Families – spent at least $1 million on candidates, including the mayor’s TV ad.

Denver Families was founded with the support of local charter school networks in 2021, with funding from Virginia-based The City Fund.

The current board has been at odds with the progressive education model that emphasizes school differentiation to meet student needs. Teachers in alternative models – think charter or innovation schools – are not part of the bargaining unit.

In Denver, pro-charter organizations are often pitted against the local teachers’ union.

Tuesday’s swearing in comes as the board has struggled with a public that largely perceives district leadership unfavorably.

Polls leading up to the election show 70% of likely voters held an unfavorable opinion of the Denver Public Schools’ Board of Education.

For months, the board has endured withering public criticism for a series of missteps that include – among others – school closures, gun violence and the termination of a popular principal and his wrongful termination lawsuit.

Overall discontent has also given rise to the “Resign DPS Board” effort, which has sought to vote out and recall the incumbents.

Local political pundits have speculated – given the deep public discontent with leadership – that this year’s school board race held the potential of altering the board’s dysfunction.

FILE PHOTO: John Youngquist and his campaign manager, Skylar White, react to initial results coming in in Youngquist’s race to become a member of the Denver school board at a watch party at Bar38 on Nov. 7, 2023 in Denver. He will be sworn in Tuesday. 
Tom Hellauer/Denver Gazette
FILE PHOTO: Marlene De La Rosa waves to supporters after a second round of ballots opened a convincing lead in her school board race at a watch party in Denver on Nov. 7, 2023. She will be sworn in Tuesday.
Tom Hellauer/Denver Gazette
FILE PHOTO: Marlene DeLaRosa, center, refreshes election results on a supporter’s phone  for her school board race on election night at a watch party in Denver on Nov. 7, 2023. She will be sworn in Tuesday. 
Tom Hellauer/Denver Gazette
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