FaithBridge

Tonight, DPS wrapped up its regional meetings on EL-19. Before saying anything else, I want to recognize the members of Team DPS who carried these conversations across the city. I saw the same staff at meeting after meeting. After long workdays, they stayed late to listen, even when we challenged the process and pressed hard on what our children need. They heard our hurts and hopes, our frustrations and fears. Thank you for showing up and staying present.

I wish I could say the same about our elected Board of Education. I understand that board members divided the meetings among themselves and attended when their schedules allowed. Staff had no such luxury. And GP’s commitment to “outward visioning and proactive engagement with stakeholders” calls for more than dividing up appearances. These meetings offered the board a chance to listen across regions and envision the future of our schools with the people who elected them. (I acknowledge those Directors who came to regional meetings outside of their own regions!)

That is a responsibility of governance. It should not have landed on FACE as another day-to-day community engagement assignment.

The meetings ended tonight, but the concerns I heard did not. Across regions and lived experiences, people asked what it will take to deliver great schools for every child in every part of Denver. They also asked whether we can do that work together after decades of disjointed decisions that have set communities against one another.

Team DPS showed up for those questions. They took responsibility, even when it wasn’t theirs to take. I salute them. Now, the elected board needs to sit with what communities shared, reach out to hear more, and truly lean in to co-create a way forward that will ensure that all children thrive across Denver.

With Respect,

Vernon

https://www.denvertogetherforkids.com/

The 4A DPS Mill Levy website is up! We appreciate your support and vote for:
➡️$1750 base pay increase for employees
(educators, office prifessionals, paras, bus drivers, facilities, maintenance etc)
➡️ Career and Technical Education opportunities for students (engineering, aviation, construction trades, mechanics, medical fields etc)
➡️ Mental Health and Special Ed supports for students

The mill levy funds, if approved, will be monitored by a citizen oversight Board separate from the DPS Board of Education.

Yes on 4A!

https://www.denvertogetherforkids.com/

Denver Together for Kids - Yes on 4A 4A will support Denver students and educators by investing $44 mil dollars annually directly into student, staff and teacher supports.

Coming up this week on the JusticeCast!
Does where a child lives predict access to a great school?

This week we will preview our Equity SPF as a consistent public lens across five geographies.

The goal is to make patterns visible, investigate the conditions producing them, identify shared responsibility, and ask what must change so every child can thrive.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/

Public Comment from Vernon on 9/17/26 at Denver Public Schools

President Gaytán, members of the Board, Superintendent Marrero:

My name is Vernon Jones Jr. I am a DPS parent and Leader of FaithBridge.

There is an ancient truth that feels particularly relevant tonight:

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

We seem to be divided in this moment.

Divided by accusations.

Divided by mistrust.

Divided by questions about process, power, relationships, and accountability.

And when the adults entrusted with governing a school system become consumed by division, eventually children pay the price.

So let me be equally clear:

Antisemitism has no place in this house.

Anti-Blackness has no place in this house.

Racism, hatred, and discrimination have no place in this house.

And neither should allegations this serious be reduced to politics, personalities, or factions.

They deserve the truth.

They deserve a fair, independent, and credible process.

And where the facts establish wrongdoing, they deserve accountability.

But President Gaytán, Superintendent Marrero, and members of this Board:

You also have to repair this house.

Because Denver’s children are counting on you.

They are counting on the adults in this room to build a district where every child is seen.

Every child is heard.

Every child is supported.

Every child belongs.

Every child learns in a great school.

And every child has the opportunity to achieve their hopes.

You cannot make that promise to children while modeling division among adults.

You cannot ask students to build community while leadership demonstrates dysfunction.

You cannot teach young people how to navigate differences while the adults entrusted with their future cannot navigate their own.

So investigate what must be investigated.

Establish the truth.

Hold people accountable.

Repair relationships.

And get this house back in order.

Because governance matters.

Accountability matters.

Leadership matters.

But children are the mission.

And they are counting on all of us to do two things:

Make the promise.

And keep the promise.

A divided house cannot do either.

Thank you.