Es hora de tener un nuevo liderazgo en la Junta de Educación de las Escuelas Públicas de Denver (DPS).
por Idalia Rocha
Como madre de DPS, estoy cansada de ver a los miembros de la junta priorizar la política sobre las familias. Por eso participé en un proceso de recomendación comunitario para conocer a cada candidato. A través de esa experiencia, me quedó claro que Alex Magaña y Mariana del Hierro representan el cambio que necesitamos.
Los miembros de las juntas escolares deben reflejar lo que sus comunidades esperan de sus escuelas públicas. Esto se ha perdido en los últimos años. En lugar de abordar los problemas que plantean los padres (éxito académico, salud mental y seguridad), muchos de ellos actúan como designados políticos del distrito en lugar de representar a quienes los eligieron.
Nuestros hijos merecen algo mejor. Las familias llevan años pidiendo acciones concretas en materia de resultados de aprendizaje, seguridad escolar y apoyo a la salud mental. Estas prioridades siguen relegadas a un segundo plano frente a la política. A pesar de esa frustración, tengo esperanza en el futuro si elegimos nuevos líderes que escuchen a los padres y se centren en los estudiantes.
Participar en un panel comunitario para el proceso de respaldo de Denver Families Action me permitió observar de cerca las prioridades de 11 candidatos diferentes. Hicimos preguntas directas sobre lo que más les importa a las familias. A través de esas conversaciones, Magaña y del Hierro se destacaron como los candidatos más comprometidos a representar las voces de la comunidad en la junta del DPS.
Estoy apoyando a Alex Magaña por el puesto del Distrito General porque se ha desempeñado como maestro de escuela pública, director y padre de familia de DPS. Comprende el sistema desde todos los niveles y está profundamente comprometido en mejorar los resultados académicos de nuestros estudiantes. En nuestras conversaciones, habló con detenimiento sobre las necesidades de los estudiantes de primaria, secundaria y preparatoria, y cómo involucrar a las familias en la búsqueda de soluciones.
Para el suroeste de Denver, estoy apoyando a Mariana del Hierro por sus profundas raíces y dedicación a nuestra comunidad. Como madre de DPS, comprende lo que las familias viven a diario. Cree que estudiantes, maestros y padres deben tener una voz más fuerte en las decisiones del distrito. Valora la inclusión y la equidad, garantizando que todos los niños, sin importar su origen, tengan acceso a una excelente educación pública.
Sobre todo, me preocupa que nuestros hijos estén seguros y tengan acceso a los recursos de salud mental que necesitan. Los padres deben tener la confianza de que, cuando enviamos a nuestros hijos a la escuela, pueden concentrarse en aprender, sin temer por su seguridad. Magaña y del Hierro comparten ese compromiso. Saben que nuestras escuelas necesitan más enfermeras, terapeutas y apoyo para ayudar a los estudiantes a prosperar.
Si tiene la oportunidad de votar, por favor, hágalo. Vote por los candidatos que escucharán a los padres, se centrarán en los estudiantes y priorizarán la seguridad y el aprendizaje, no la política. Las familias y los niños de DPS merecen líderes fuertes y compasivos que garanticen que cada estudiante tenga las herramientas para triunfar y la oportunidad de alcanzar sus sueños.
Idalia Rocha es una madre de DPS, propietaria de una empresa y líder comunitaria en el suroeste de Denver.
It is time for change in leadership on the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Board of Education.
By Idalia Rocha
As a DPS parent, I am tired of seeing school board members put politics ahead of the concerns of the families they are supposed to represent. That is why I participated in a community-based endorsement process to learn about the candidates in this election. Through that experience, it became clear that Alex Magaña and Mariana del Hierro represent the change we need.
School board members are elected representatives that are supposed to represent what their community wants to see from their public schools. That has been lost on some members in recent years. Rather than listening to our pleas to address what matters to us, our school board leaders have acted like political appointees of DPS. Instead of holding district leaders accountable to the people who voted for them, they act as if their duty is to defend the district against their constituents.
Our children are not experiencing the academic success, mental health support and basic safety that they deserve from our public schools. DPS parents have been calling for these issues to be addressed for years but they continue to take a back seat to politics on the board. As frustrating as this has been, I am confident in the future of our public schools if we vote for new leaders in this election.
Sitting on a community panel for Denver Families Action’s endorsements, I learned about the priorities of 11 different candidates by talking with them directly. I had the opportunity to ask questions and assess whether I supported the candidates we interviewed based off what I personally care deeply about. It was through these engaging conversations that Magaña and del Hierro made clear they are the best individuals to represent the community’s interests on the DPS board.
I am supporting Alex Magaña for the at-large seat because he has been a public school teacher, principal and DPS parent. In our conversations, it was clear he is thinking deeply about youth, elementary, middle school and high school students and their needs. He has a record of improving outcomes for children in public schools and that he is committed to engaging families in his leadership role.
For Southwest Denver, I am supporting del Hierro because of her dedication to our community here. With a child in DPS, she also knows what it is like for mothers like me. She emphasized that students, teachers and families are the people that need to be represented on the school board. For her, all kids are important, regardless of their background, and deserve a great public education that is inclusive and equitable across every neighborhood in our city.
The most important thing to me personally is that our kids are safe and have access to mental health resources. Not only should we DPS parents know that our children won’t be harmed when we send them to school but our students should be able to focus on learning instead of fearing something bad will happen to them.
Magaña and del Hierro understand my concerns because they have been there themselves as DPS parents. They share my belief that our public schools don’t have the nurses and therapists we need to support the growing needs of our children. For kids who don’t feel safe at school, they also want to see greater support resources so that every student can enjoy their public education experience.
If you have the opportunity to vote, please vote and be the voter for those that can’t. DPS parents and families need your vote for our children. They are the future leaders of our state. Vote so that our state has students that graduate and pursue their hopes and dreams. You have a role in ensuring they have great leaders on the school board and all the tools they need for a high-quality public education.
Idalia Rocha is a DPS mother, business owner and community leader in Southwest Denver.
