The Denver school board on Monday named its three finalists for superintendent, including a Minnesota woman who had withdrawn her candidacy last week but changed her mind over the weekend.
Patricia Harvey, the current superintendent of St. Paul (Minn.) Public Schools, was named at a special school board meeting along with Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s chief of staff, Michael Bennet, and Community College of Denver president Christine Johnson.
For more than a week, teachers, community leaders and parents have been waiting eagerly for the list of finalists. Board President Lester Woodward acknowledged that the selection process took longer than expected. “But it’s where we’ve ended up that matters,” he said.
With their identities now public, finalists have two weeks to speak openly to student and parent groups, the teachers union and advocates about how they would run the district.
The board must replace Jerry Wartgow, who is resigning as superintendent effective June 30.
Incoming teachers union president Kim Ursetta said she looked forward to seeing which candidate had the knowledge to implement a four-year contract that took effect last month.
“I would like to work with someone who knows our students,” Ursetta said, declining to endorse anyone.
Harvey was a surprise third finalist Monday. Last week, she told The Denver Post she had flown to Colorado for an interview but had a change of heart and decided to stay in St Paul.
After the board’s announcement Monday, she described that earlier decision as wrenching – and wrong.
“I had knots in my stomach about it,” said Harvey, who has been with the St. Paul schools for six years. “It didn’t feel courageous to me. It felt like I was staying here because it was a wonderful place to be.”
Many in St. Paul were just learning Monday that Harvey was again interested in the Denver job. “I’m shocked,” said Judith Tenney, a principal in the district.
If selected as Denver superintendent, Harvey said, she would raise the expectations of all students in all schools.
Harvey has proved herself. Since she has taken over in St. Paul, state and national test scores have steadily increased in most grade levels, she said.
“I’ve been afforded the opportunity to look at education through a lot of lenses,” she said. “I believe I can provide very important skills to DPS.”
So does Bennet, Hickenlooper’s chief of staff since July 2003.
The so-called nontraditional K-12 candidate, Bennet said he would use his leadership to build an empire of private and public partnerships. He said he would surround himself with people who knew about schools.
“There is no shortage in DPS or among the many supporters outside DPS of people with educational backgrounds,” he said. “I know there are talented people who can help the system.”
He said three ingredients will make DPS successful, safe schools, highly skilled teachers with access to professional development and regular measurements on student progress.
Bennet said he would tackle the achievement gap and try to tap people outside the district who could help with the challenges urban students face.
Johnson, the state’s first Latina college president, comes to the table as a former DPS educator and principal. She now heads Community College of Denver.
Johnson could not be reached Monday evening for comment.
As news trickled across the city on cellphone messages and e-mails Monday night, community leaders such as Susan Molina said they were just waiting to get their questions answered.
“We would love to sit down and ask them questions – what they stand for and what they believe in and what they feel they can bring to DPS,” said Molina, a DPS parent who works with Metro Organizations for People.
“Personally, I want to know that we are going to have a superintendent who is not going to give us the runaround.”
Staff writer Felisa Cardona contributed to this report.
Staff writer Allison Sherry can be reached at 303-820-1377 or asherry@denverpost.com.
