News Release
Jan. 12, 2005
John Youngquist Appointed Northwest Area Superintendent; Melanie Haas Is Retiring
Superintendent Jerry Wartgow today announced the appointment of John Youngquist as Northwest Area Superintendent. He will replace Melanie Haas, who is retiring later this month.
"We are very disappointed that Melanie Haas is leaving the district but we are very glad that she will be working closely with us in the next phase of her career, helping prepare teachers for the specific needs of Denver Public Schools," said Superintendent Wartgow. "We wish her well and thank her for all her significant contributions."
Haas, who has more than three decades with Denver Public Schools, including three and one-half years as Southwest Area Superintendent and Northwest Area Superintendent, will be managing a five-year, $10 million federal Teacher Quality Enhancement grant at Metropolitan State College.
John Younquist has spent 15 years working in public education, including three years as Assistant Area Superintendent in the northeast and southwest quadrants. For six years he was the principal at Newlon Elementary School in northwest Denver. At Newlon, Youngquist earned the National Distinguished Award from National Association of Elementary School Principals.
"John is a seasoned, experienced assistant superintendent who has the knowledge and the leadership capacity to excel in this new assignment," said Superintendent Wartgow.
Replacing Youngquist as Assistant Area Superintendent in southwest Denver will be Diana Lopez, who is a principal on special assignment. Lopez will work with Southwest Area Superintendent Joe Sandoval. She will work as an interim Assistant Area Superintendent through the balance of the school year while a permanent replacement is sought, said Superintendent Wartgow.
Lopez, who is currently working as an area specialist in southwest Denver, has been with Denver Public Schools since 1978 and was previously the principal at Centennial Elementary School for five years.
When he came to Denver Public Schools in June of 2001, Superintendent Wartgow reorganized central administration and created four quadrants, each headed by an Area Superintendent and Assistant Area Superintendent. (The northeast quadrant has two Assistant Area Superintendents.)
For more information, contact the DPS Communications Office at 720-423-3414.