The problems that plague Denver Public Schools are the city’s challenges, too, newly chosen superintendent Michael Bennet said Monday.
He called upon Denver’s citizens to put the city’s schoolchildren “on your shoulders so they can achieve the high expectations you have for them.”
With that challenge to the city and its residents, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s chief of staff ushered in a new era for a district that “can be, must be, the best big-city school district in the United States.”
By engaging all the institutions of the city – political, business and community organizations – Bennet thinks DPS can flourish.
We hope he’s right, because Colorado’s future rides on the success of its schools.
His expectations for DPS are high, and his vision is bold, which is why school board members selected this education outsider to lead the 74,000-student district and build on reform efforts begun over the past four years by outgoing superintendent Jerry Wartgow.
Bennet is an excellent choice – even though he lacks a background in K-12 education. The other two candidates, Pat Harvey and Christine Johnson, had stellar credentials, and DPS would have been in good hands with either at the helm. But Bennet’s outside-the-box thinking and proven track record as a problem-solver seem to offer DPS the greatest opportunity.
At the news conference announcing his hire, Bennet joked about happily shedding some of the duties and problems of a big- city chief of staff. We’re sure his challenges were immense, but what he faces now is daunting:
The achievement gap between the haves and have-nots is growing.
Hispanics make up more than half of the district’s students, yet at least one study this year placed their graduation rate at 30.5 percent.
High schools, virtually unchanged for decades, are in desperate need of reform.
School finances continue to be a huge challenge. DPS cut millions this year, and a $25 million mill-levy override for better teacher pay is on this November’s ballot.
DPS is the only district with several schools on the state’s watch-list.
Bennet on Monday said nice things about the teachers union. He needs to make it a partner in his efforts rather than an obstacle. Like Hickenlooper, Bennet also needs to surround himself with bright people.
His capacity for leadership and his intelligence, ambition and connections made him the board’s unanimous choice. “He’s going to be a dynamic leader for Denver,” said board president Les Woodward.
Bennet’s to-do list will be lengthy when he officially takes the reins. But boosting achievement of all students needs to be first and last on that list.
