Thread by @MelanieAsmar

Denver! Are you filling out your ballot this weekend? Need some info on school board candidates? I've done a ton of coverage of the candidates + the race, and I'll thread the stories below. 🧵 #edcolo #copolitics #coloradovotes

First, the basics: There are 12 candidates running for 4 open seats on the Denver school board. (There will be 13 names on the ballot, but one candidate - Andrea Mosby - withdrew. Votes for Mosby won't count.)

We asked each of the 12 candidates 8 questions about their priorities for @DPSNewsNow.

Read their answers in their own words. ⬇️ co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/13/227…

Want to learn more? I also wrote stories about each of the 12 candidates. Up first: The at-large race. Every voter in Denver can vote in this race.

There are 5 candidates running for the at large seat:

Scott Esserman, a parent and former classroom educator who helped to open a comprehensive high school in northeast Denver. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/23/2269…

Vernon Jones Jr., an educator and father of five who recently resigned as head of a district innovation zone. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/24/2269…

Jane Shirley, a former teacher, principal, and district administrator in Aurora who once ran a cabaret theater in downtown Denver. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/27/2269…

Nicky Yollick, a former state legislative candidate and avowed progressive political activist. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/28/2269…

And Marla Benavides, a Denver mother who home-schools her son and once worked as a bilingual paraprofessional in public schools. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/29/2269…

Next up: The District 2 race. District 2 covers southwest Denver from the southwest corner of the city to the Barnum and Valverde neighborhoods. Only voters who live in District 2 can vote in this race.

There are 2 candidates running for this seat:

Xóchitl "Sochi" Gaytán, a real estate agent who grew up in southwest Denver, graduated from a neighborhood high school, and raised her own family in the region. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/30/2270…

And Karolina Villagrana, a former Denver teacher and administrator who held bilingual outdoor read-alouds for neighborhood kids during the pandemic. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/1/2270…

There's also an open seat in District 3 in central-east Denver, which stretches from Capitol Hill to Lowry. Only voters who live in District 3 can vote in this race.

There are also 2 candidates in this race:

Mike DeGuire, a retired Denver principal who is a career educator and now coaches school leaders. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/13/227…

And Carrie Olson, the current Denver school board president, who was a bilingual teacher in the district for 33 years. Olson is the only incumbent running. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/14/227…

A seat in northeast Denver's District 4 is also up for grabs. District 4 stretches from Five Points to the Gateway neighborhood. Only voters who live in District 4 can vote in this race.

There are 3 candidates in this race. (Andrea Mosby is also on the ballot but she withdrew.)

Gene Fashaw, a math teacher who grew up in northeast Denver and has long coached youth sports in the region.
co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/18/227…

Michelle Quattlebaum, a mom who worked to improve the culture of a school that was historically divided by programming and race. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/19/227…

And José Silva, who leads an association devoted to the mental health of children ages birth to 6.

Silva is also a Denver Public Schools graduate (West High), as are Fashaw (George Washington High) and Quattlebaum (South High). co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/22/227…

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association @DenverTeachers has endorsed 4 candidates: Esserman for the at-large seat, Gaytán in District 2, Olson in District 3, and Quattlebaum in District 4.

Education advocacy group @TEN_Colorado endorsed a different set of candidates: Jones for the at-large seat, Villagrana in District 2, and Fashaw in District 4. It did not endorse in District 3.

Advocacy group @ColoradoStand endorsed the same candidates plus Olson in District 3.

Reported spending in the election had already topped $1 million earlier this week. Most of that money is being spent by outside groups. (The last Denver school board election, in 2019, topped out at $2.28 million in spending - mostly by outside groups.) co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/25/227…

For a rundown of what's at stake in this election - two years after a historic "flip" of the school board majority - check out this story from yesterday. co.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/28/227…

Phew! I think that's it. Happy voting! 🗳️