In Honor of Longtime DPS Leader Pat Slaughter

It is with great sadness that we share the news that longtime DPS educator and leader Pat Slaughter passed away on Saturday, Oct. 5. Pat began her DPS career in 1981 as a fifth-grade teacher at Edison Elementary School, and she spent more than three decades serving Denver’s children and families.

Pat moved from the classroom to become an assistant principal at Martin Luther King College Prep in 1999, and then continued to take on bigger leadership responsibilities throughout her time at DPS: Founding Principal at Rachel B. Noel Middle School, Instructional Superintendent, Executive Director of K-8 Schools, and then a member of Superintendent Tom Boasberg’s Senior Leadership team as Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education from March of 2010 until her retirement from DPS in January of 2014.

“I think everyone who worked with Pat was struck by what a principled leader and dedicated educator she was,” Superintendent Susana Cordova remembered. “She brought an intense focus on the needs of our students to every discussion and a quiet and inspiring strength to our district’s leadership. Our schools, our students, and our city benefited tremendously from Pat’s service and leadership.”

A funeral service for Pat will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 at King Baptist Church, 3370 Ivy St., Denver CO 80207. Please join us in keeping Pat and her family in our thoughts as we celebrate her life and countless contributions to DPS and mourn her loss.