Dear DPS Community,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that justice does not happen on its own. It is built day by day through courage, care for one another and a willingness to act. As we pause to remember Dr. King, this moment asks more of us than reflection. It asks us to consider how his values show up in the way we serve students, support families and work alongside one another across the Denver community.
Dr. King believed deeply in the power of education. He understood that when young people are challenged to think, affirmed in who they are and given real opportunities to learn, they gain the confidence and tools to shape their futures. This belief is closely connected to our shared commitment at DPS to ensuring that every learner has what they need to thrive.
Honoring that commitment means being honest about inequity. Dr. King named the systems that limit opportunity and dignity for entire communities, and we recognize that similar systems have shaped access and outcomes in education for far too long. Acknowledging this truth is not about blame. It is about responsibility and the work required to create something better.
Our charge is to build schools where every student feels seen, supported and capable of success, regardless of race, language, identity or ability. When equity guides our decisions, learning becomes more than academics. It becomes a place where students develop confidence, purpose and a sense of belonging. This work is not easy and cannot be done alone, but is necessary.
As we move through a world that keeps changing and growing more complex, we have a responsibility to leave our communities better than we found them for our students. That means doing more than remembering Dr. King’s dream — it means living it. When we carry forward the images, ideas and hope he shared, we keep that dream alive through our everyday choices and the way we show up for one another.
One way we can honor Dr. King’s legacy together is through action and community. We invite you to join DPS students, staff and families at the Denver Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade today, Jan. 19. As we come together in unity and service, may we recommit ourselves to carrying forward Dr. King’s work in our schools and beyond.
In collaboration,
Dr. Alex Marrero
Superintendent