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Amanda Stevens
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Amanda Stevens was the District 4 representative on the Jeffco Board of Education in Colorado. She was first elected to the board in the general election on November 3, 2015.[1][2]
This election provided the district with an entirely new board, something that had never happened before. Neither incumbent filed to run in the general election to retain their seats. In addition to those two seats, a recall election was held on November 3, 2015, for the other three incumbents on the board.[3]
Stevens ran as part of "The Clean Slate" with District 3 candidate Ali Lasell and three candidates—Brad Rupert, Susan Harmon and Ron Mitchell—who sought to oust the targeted board members in the recall election. All five members of the slate were elected to the board.[1][4]
Stevens participated in Ballotpedia's 2015 survey of school board candidates. To read her responses, check out her 2015 campaign themes.
Biography
Stevens grew up in Jefferson County and attended Jeffco Public Schools. She earned a master's degree in education and worked as a teacher before transitioning to a parent advocate and volunteering role. She has experience serving on Jeffco’s Choice Committee and Strategic Planning Advisory/District Accountability Committee. Stevens has two children who attend school in the district.[5]
Elections
2015
- See also: Jeffco Public Schools elections (2015)
Two of the five seats on the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education were up for general election on November 3, 2015. The election was held by district.
The seats of District 3 incumbent Jill Fellman and District 4 incumbent Lesley Dahlkemper were up for regular election.[6][7] Neither incumbent filed to run for re-election, which guaranteed two newcomers would join the board. Candidates Kim Johnson and Ali Lasell ran for the District 3 seat. The District 4 race included candidates Tori Merritts and Amanda Stevens.[2] Lasell and Stevens, both members of the "Clean Slate," won the election.[1]
A recall election was also on the ballot on November 3, 2015. The other three members on the board—Julie Williams, Ken Witt, and John Newkirk—were accused of wasting taxpayer money, violating open meeting laws, limiting public comments at board meetings, bullying parents and students, and trying to censor U.S. history classes.[8] Lasell and Stevens came out in support of the recall. They ran with a slate of candidates seeking to oust the targeted board members in the recall election. Johnson and Merritts said they did not support the recall.[4]
Results
| Jeffco Public Schools, District 4, General Election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Amanda Stevens |
66.4% | 101,843 |
| Tori Merritts | 33.6% | 51,586 |
| Total Votes | 153,429 | |
| Source: Jefferson County, "Official County Results," November 20, 2015 | ||
Funding
Stevens reported $61,499.00 in contributions and $61,457.18 in expenditures to the Colorado Secretary of State, which left her campaign with $41.82 on hand as of the election.[9]
Jeffco school board candidates had to file a total of three campaign finance reports. The first was due October 13, 2015. The second was due October 30, 2015, and the final report had to be filed by December 3, 2015.[10]
Endorsements
Stevens received endorsements from the following organizations and elected officials:[11][12]
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Stevens was also endorsed by a number of municipal officials, local leaders and community members.[12] A full list of her supporters can be found here.
Campaign themes
2015
Ballotpedia survey responses
Stevens participated in Ballotpedia's 2015 survey of school board candidates. The following sections display her responses to the survey questions. When asked what her top priority would be if elected, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | My top priority will always be the success of all Jeffco students--to see them thrive as whole, whole-hearted learners, earners, and citizens. The most critical priority to be addressed is adequate funding, as Colorado is a sad $2,700 below the national average every year for every child. My platform is a three-pronged approach to refocusing school board leadership on nonpartisan service to all students and our community rather than polarizing agendas: 1. Excellence (assess and improve students' academic learning, enrichment opportunities, and safety & connection, while rebuilding Jeffco as the destination district for passionate, professional educators who want long-term, sustainable careers) |
” |
| —Amanda Stevens, (2015)[14] | ||
Ranking the issues
Stevens was asked to rank the following issues by importance in the school district, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. This table displays this candidate's rankings from most to least important:
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in Colorado. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Improving college readiness | |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Expanding career-technical education | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Expanding school choice options | |
Positions on the issues
Stevens was asked to answer 10 questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are in the left column, and the candidate's responses are in the right column of the following table:
| Question | Response |
|---|---|
| "Colorado Academic Standards bridge easily to the literacy and math expectations in the Common Core standards, but they go beyond that to set high shared standards in Science & Social Studies, the Arts, Health & Nutrition, etc., aiming to prepare all students to thrive in life as whole-hearted learners, earners, and citizens. I strongly support the Colorado Academic Standards, developed by Colorado educators and civic and business leaders." | |
| "Jeffco must continue to support choices for families in high quality charter, neighborhood, and option schools. I will heartily support grassroots charter schools in our district so that they may be successful and sustainable, and I will approve charter school applications that demonstrate viability, innovation, and community interest/need. I will practice due diligence to ensure local charter board governance rather than self-perpetuating boards, and choice as a tool for families and communities, not for-profit companies. I will work to bridge current divisions so that all school communities can learn from each other and advocate together for equity, excellence, and increased funding." | |
| "No" | |
| "Standardized tests are an imperfect but valuable tool within a constructive assessment system. We must significantly improve the current expensive, burdensome, punitive testing regimens so that standardized tests are effective and far more efficient. We will know they are working when they 1. Provide timely, instructionally relevant information to teachers, 2. Assess systems and policies for effectiveness, 3. Identify exemplars to celebrate and weaknesses to address for closer study, and 4. Support a growth mindset for students and teachers. Assessments should guide work and tell human stories at scale. We’ve learned equity matters and poverty is relentless. We’ve learned collaboration serves continuous improvement better than competition, and money matters but isn’t enough without the buy-in and empowerment of stakeholders. Data is not artillery to use against your own troops; it must guide the transformational work we need to be united in, rather than used to turn public education into a blame game or political football." | |
| "Jeffco must advocate for improved Colorado K12 funding and local investment, which will be vital to the following: 1. Increase access to preschool and full-day kindergarten through a tiered cost based on family income | |
| Stevens answered: "All of the above, except 'expulsion should never be an option.'" The options provided with this question can be found here. | |
| "First, since poverty correlates highly to “failure” in school—for individual students and school buildings—develop capacity to provide wrap-around services and community connection and engagement for students and families. Next, partner with demographically similar schools that are succeeding so that staff can collaborate, problem-solve, and improve. Focus on building a stable, effective, staff that stays long term. Assess and adjust on a short cycle. We must recognize that all too often the narrative of failing schools disadvantages children in poverty and children of color. Educators are often blamed for factors outside their control, and current policy and practice discourages great teachers from choosing to build careers in high poverty schools long term. Only supportive, far-reaching systems interventions will move a school community forward. Rather than blame, threaten, and punish teachers, broad policy change is needed to support young families, single parents, and children in poverty toward self-sufficiency and success. Children in poverty are not destined to academic failure, and I won strong learning outcomes as a teacher in high poverty communities. All students deserve to reach college and career readiness." | |
| "Yes. A merit pay system should be collaboratively built so buy-in exists, leading to effectiveness in hiring and retaining excellent educators. Additionally, a merit pay system may incorporate student learning outcomes as measured by standardized tests but must do far more, including incentivizing teachers to meet student needs, take professional risks, and develop themselves through strong training. Mentor teaching, collaboration, and classroom career pathways can be components as well. There is no silver bullet when it comes to compensation plans; they must remain dynamic, responsive to student learning needs, and capable of addressing current challenges faced by the district." | |
| "All of the above with one change: “Terminate ineffective teachers who do not improve after ample supports and due process.” It is harmful to label children—“Unsatisfactory, Partially Proficient, Proficient, Advanced”—who instead need to develop a growth mindset and a sense of efficacy…a belief that there is a path toward success and they can walk it. Similarly, we must not focus only on “teacher quality” but also on “teaching quality.” If we merely label teachers—“Ineffective, Partially Effective, Effective, Highly Effective”—we ignore the growth and risk-taking we need educators to practice. The better approach is to hire from a strong talent pool (a major challenge given the nation’s looming teacher shortage), develop professional best practices, strong classroom career pathways, and programs of mentorship and collaboration. This approach will better sustain great teaching and a flexibility among teachers to take the risks students need, like teaching a new grade level, taking on the challenge of college coursework (AP, IB, concurrent enrollment), and choosing challenging work and career development (Gifted & Talented, Culturally & Linguistically Diverse, Special Education endorsements and high poverty schools). When a teacher still proves ineffective in a supportive and professional environment, they should be exited from the classroom. Systemically, U.S. teachers are more often overworked and under-supported than underperforming, spending 35% more time in the classroom than teachers in Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom, often with students who face unaddressed challenges like stress, trauma, and poverty." | |
| "Our community deserves school board members who listen and learn from our community stakeholders—taxpayers and homeowners, employers and employees, families and educators. I will listen purposefully, make myself available for dialogue with community members, and build relationships with key partners in our community, such as community colleges, services for the disadvantaged, and business associations. Isolation and unilateral decision-making will not develop the supportive, connected team our community needs to be for all students. Instead, I will practice respect, partnership, and dialogue through nonpartisan service." |
Candidate website
Stevens highlighted the following frequently asked questions on her campaign website:
| “ | Why do you want to be on Jeffco’s school board? It’s time for our Board of Education to stop fighting each other and start fighting for students. I have young children in these schools so I know how important it is to get this right. I want all students to thrive, and I’m committed to the Excellence, Transparency, and Cooperation that will take. Will you work together with Jeffco Stakeholders? Do you support limited testing of students? What will be your approach to Jeffco’s budget issues? Do you support a salary increase for teachers? How will you work with the Jefferson County Teacher Association? Do you support teacher evaluations? Do you support Choice and charter schools? How would you support the growing diversity in Jeffco? Are you up to this? |
” |
| —Amanda Stevens campaign website (2015)[15] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Amanda Stevens' 'Jeffco Public Schools'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Jeffco Public Schools, Colorado
- Jeffco Public Schools elections (2015)
- Incumbency no guarantee of success in Nov. 3 school board elections (November 6, 2015)
- What happened in Nov.'s top board elections? (November 4, 2015)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jefferson County, "Unofficial County Results," November 3, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jeffco Public Schools, "Board of Education Election 2015," accessed August 31, 2015
- ↑ Lakewood Sentinel, "Jefferson County School Board elections could force imminent change," October 6, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Colorado Public Radio, "In JeffCo, Recall Vote Brings Years Of Turmoil To A Head," October 19, 2015
- ↑ Amanda Stevens for Jeffco Schools, "About," accessed October 8, 2015
- ↑ Jeffco Public Schools, "Board Members," accessed January 27, 2015
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado elections & campaign finance calendar," accessed January 27, 2015
- ↑ Jefferson County Elections, "Election Information - What's on the 2015 Coordinated Election Ballot?" accessed October 9, 2015
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Candidate Information - Election Year 2015: Stevens, Amanda," accessed December 7, 2015
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2015 Jefferson County School Board Elections Calendar (Regular and Recall)," accessed October 7, 2015
- ↑ Jeffco Students for Change, "Announcement of the 2015 JSFC Endorsements for the Regular School Board Election," September 13, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Amanda Stevens for Jeffco Schools, "Endorsements," accessed October 8, 2015
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2015, "Amanda Stevens responses," October 26, 2015
- ↑ Amanda Stevens for Jeffco Schools, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed October 8, 2015
| 2015 Jeffco Public Schools General Election and Recall Election | |
| Jefferson County, Colorado | |
| Election date: | November 3, 2015 |
| Candidates: | General Election Candidates District 3: • Kim Johnson • Ali Lasell District 4: • Tori Merritts • Amanda Stevens Recall Election Candidates District 1: • Incumbent, Julie Williams • Brad Rupert District 2: • Incumbent, John Newkirk • Matt Dhieux • Susan Harmon District 5: • Incumbent, Ken Witt • Regan Benson • Ron Mitchell • Paula Noonan |
| Important information: | Issues in the general election • Recall supporters • Recall opponents • Key general election deadlines • Recall path to the ballot |
