News Release
June 13, 2005
Superintendent Candidates To Visit Schools, Meet Public June 21-24
The Denver Board of Education has announced a series of meetings next week to introduce to the community each of the three candidates for the superintendent vacancy in Denver Public Schools.
The schedule features Christine Johnson on Tuesday, June 21; Michael Bennet on Wednesday, June 22; and Patricia Harvey on Thursday, June 23. In addition, each candidate will meet the morning of Friday, June 24 with community-based organizations and foundations at the Denver School of the Arts.
Each day-long itinerary will include opportunities for the public to meet the candidates during a morning stop at an elementary school Summer Scholars program, a press availability session in the afternoon, and a community reception and forum in the evening.
The community receptions with each finalist will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Denver Public Schools administration building, 900 Grant St.
The 90-minute community forums will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. those same days (also at the administration building). The forums will be broadcast on Denver cable station Channel 22. Those in attendance will have time to ask questions of the candidate, and viewers at home may call in questions to 720-423-3210, fax them to 720-423-3216 or email them to board@dpsk12.org.
Other itinerary highlights are:
Christine Johnson, Tuesday, June 21
- 9-9:45 a.m. Summer Scholars visit, Swansea Elementary School, 4650 Columbine St.
- 1-1:30 p.m. Media availability, 900 Grant St., Rooms 108 A&B
Michael Bennet, Wednesday, June 22
- 9-9:45 a.m. Summer Scholars visit, Harrington Elementary School, 2401 E. 37th Ave.
- 12:45-1:15 p.m. Media availability, 900 Grant St., Rooms 108 A&B
Patricia Harvey, Thursday, June 23
- 9-9:45 a.m. Summer Scholars visit, Philips Elementary School, 6550 E. 21st Ave.
- 1-1:30 p.m. Media availability, 900 Grant St. Rooms 108 A&B
Each candidate will meet privately with the Board of Education immediately following the community forums.
Denver Public Schools Superintendent Jerry Wartgow announced in February that he will step aside June 30, 2005, after four years at the helm of Denver Public Schools.
Earlier this month, the Board of Education began interviewing candidates to replace outgoing Superintendent Wartgow. The Board has been working with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, Ltd. to assist with the search for a new superintendent.
About The Superintendent Finalists
Michael Bennet has been Chief of Staff to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper since July 2003. Bennet spent six years prior as Managing Director for the Anschutz Investment Company in Denver. He has a J.D. law degree from Yale Law School and a bachelor's degree in History from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.
Patricia Harvey has been Superintendent of the 42,000-student Saint Paul Public Schools since 1999. Immediately prior to her superintendency, she served as Senior Fellow and Director of Urban Education at the National Center on Education and the Economy. Harvey has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois; a master's degree in School Administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago; and a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Lincoln University in Missouri.
Christine Johnson has been President of the Community College of Denver since March 2001. Immediately prior, she was Chief Academic Officer at Colorado Community Colleges. Johnson has a Ph.D. and master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Colorado and a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from New Mexico State University.
About Summer Scholars
Summer Scholars is an innovative, community-based initiative to promote literacy and academic success among struggling elementary students in Northeast Denver public schools. The award-winning program components include: an intensive summer literacy and recreation program; after-school tutoring and enrichment services during the school year; and family literacy classes for parents and younger siblings. Working in partnership with the Denver Public Schools, Denver Parks and Recreation and many other community partners, Summer Scholars has served more than 10,000 children since being founded in 1994. For more information about Summer Scholars, visit www.summerscholars.org.
For more information, contact the DPS Communications Office at 720-423-3414.