The Education Reform We Have Versus the Education Reform We Need

Note: A version of this posting appeared in Colorado Politics on January 22, 2019. For over three decades, the debate over education policy in our state and nation has been primarily waged on three fronts: accountability, school choice, and funding. Colorado created an elaborate accountability system of tests and ranking systems in step with federal […]

Some Thoughts on Testing

This month, students in our community, across our state, and across the nation will begin the annual rite of passage that is taking standardized assessments. As a public institution, our district is required to administer these assessments under both state and federal law. It can be rightly argued that the nation’s system of standardized assessments […]

A Challenge for the New Year

At the first district all-leadership meeting for 2019, we discussed what is on a lot of people’s minds in our schools right now – budget and construction! While these topics are definitely of great importance, I also wanted to draw the attention of our leaders back to what we call “the main thing” in Jeffco, […]

What happens now with 5A and 5B funds?

The passage of Jeffco Public Schools’ ballot questions 5A and 5B will bring important improvements to schools all across our community. I get a lot of questions about how we will spend these funds and when we can expect to see some impacts from them, and I’d like to address some of those questions here. […]

Thank You, Jeffco Voters!

The results of the 2018 election have finally been certified and they mean improved opportunities for students, better pay for our educators and staff, and improved buildings in Jeffco. During this election cycle, I talked extensively with people in our community about their choices on the ballot. With ballot questions 5A and 5B as local […]