Charles Johnson (Colorado school board candidate)

Charles Johnson

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education At-large

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

The Bijou School

Personal

Birthplace

Denver, Colo.

Profession

Retail

Contact

Campaign Instagram

Charles Johnson is running for election for an at-large seat of the Colorado Springs School District 11 school board. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^{[sources: 1, 2]}

Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Charles Johnson was born in Denver, Colorado. He earned a high school diploma from The Bijou School. His career experience includes working in retail. He has been affiliated with Neighbors for Education.

Elections

2025

See also: Colorado Springs School District 11, Colorado, elections (2025)

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates are running in the general election for Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	LeAnn Baca Bartlett (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Michael Carsten (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Bruce Cole (Nonpartisan)
		John Gustafson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Jeremiah Johnson (Nonpartisan)
		Charles Johnson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Michelle Ruehl (Nonpartisan)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Charles Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Johnson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am running because I called district eleven home. I walked through those halls, played on those fields and sat in those classrooms.

What does the future hold? 

Being raised by my great-grandparents, who came from Conway and North Little Rock Arkansas. Education was the backbone to their opportunity during the Jim Crow era, and they believed in the value of what education can do for your life.

From the classroom to the community. I have seen great opportunities and challenging times. Teachers deserve a fair opportunity to teach our great future, to put our students first because that is what I remember D11 being for me during my time and building trust within the community.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Valuing Educators: Our teachers and school staff are the backbone of our education ecosystem. We need to attract and retain high-quality educators and support school environments that encourage them to implement data-supported practices that help our students learn and thrive.
• Students First: In D11, we have students with a wide range of abilities and challenges. Utilizing teachers' expertise and data-supported strategies to help them improve their learning skills and increase their access to educational and career opportunities.
• Parent Empowerment: Parents are essential partners to our educators and are welcome participants in developing the educational ecosystem for D11 students. Parents and guardians need to have access to transparent information about district education outcomes, financial decisions, and student policies. Open communication and outreach are necessary to strengthen educator and parent partnerships.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Community partnership, curricula , teacher retention and transparency

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I would say my great-grandparents is who I look up to who have raised me my whole life.

They helped me through a lot with everything and I watch them help build community organizations locally. Wich help me get involved with my start in community work

I also say coaches and teachers as well taught me life experiences in and outside of the classroom that I take with me to be a better person and leader.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I would relate my philosophy to lived experience and community involvement. I believe that when we used our involvement and experience throughout what we do, i think we can figure out deep root issues to solve that happen on a everyday bases such as ( Teacher burnout , low test scores and many others ) these all happen through everyday experiences that reflect key issues happening in our education system.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe principles for elected officials should come with respect and humility, that this is a job of public service and we represent everyone no matter their views.

we also, as elected officials show work to build for the future and leave where we started better than we found it.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe some qualities that would make me a successful office holder is being from the community understanding the environment as well as being a former graduate of the district understanding the perspective of being the student in the classroom and now working in the community as a taxpayer and giving back.

I believe I bring a youthful perspective coming from a future generation to help better the ones coming after me.

I think haven't you connections throughout different sectors would help bring in different opportunities for the school and for people in the community to be connected to.

I think having open mind next to not always having the answer but also listening for others perspective to see if I could find something new and understand where they're coming from.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Integrity and self awareness to understand we all have different ways of approaching issues but we can solve them in a civil manner. transparency is also a key to be honest to your role as an elected official and make the best sound decision.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to hold the legacy that anybody from the community do you have the opportunity to run for office and have a chance to be a great public servant.

I want to show that products from the district can also give back to their local community as well.


Also hope to inspire future students to possibly want to run for their own local school district one day if that is their aspiration.

Work to build a better future for Colorado Springs and education.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The most historical moment I could remember in my lifetime would probably receiving the Leon Young award at 22 for the commitment of helping my community and being the rising leader.

I thought it was a great opportunity to get recognized by community members for the work that I do of helping build a better place.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first ever job was working at a trampoline park at the age of 16 and I had it for about 2 years it was a great experience and for my first ever job I definitely wouldn't regret it.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Goosebump series because I think it's interesting how you can use non-fiction stories and create them into a series that always has it different storyline each time so you're not always reading the same thing over and over it's always something new.

I also like the Dr Seuss series as well when it comes to the rhyming and the different graphics and how that can relate to everyday Life.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

If I could be a fictional character I would probably be Spider-Man because I'd be able to swing from building to building and I'll have the agility to move on walls or any obstacle.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Run this town

Jay z ft Rihanna

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Working to know I can do more whether it's big or small

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

Our primary job of the of being a school board member to be the checks and balance of budget , curricula , education policy, committes and many others. to best fit all students , educators and community all at the table.

Who are your constituents?

My constituents in district 11 is a diverse range from students from all backgrounds, educators , business owners , alumni , small business and many others that give back to the district whether it be past , present and future.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

I would work with our teachers and educators to utilize their expertise to help better build trust in retaining and recruiting teachers to our district. I believe that students she be put first not only in the classroom but in policy.

I think it would be great to create a student advocacy committee on the board to hear directly from our students and what they are seeing in the classroom.

I believe we need to build unity with our community and parents, because thats who helps keep our neighborhood schools going but they deserve trust and opportunity to be involved in their childs education. its important to create partnership with parents and the district.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I will work with community to meet them where they are to figure out what ways are best approach to build partnership. such as the pikes peak workforce to help build opportunity to help build a local workforce with our graduates to build our economy. I would work with organizations from the city to help build partnership in safety , culture and hospitality as a collaboration through our city and district

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

I believe when we look at good teaching and how we affect the measurement of the teachers approach. It starts with growth and progress in the classroom from the student we understand throughout the year test scores will always Even Flow and we have to make sure if we're setting the benchmark for 50% proficiency or higher that would continuously making progress towards that 50% while also looking at what's holding us back from getting there.

I believe that shows through the teachers self-awareness of their classroom and as well as of the curriculum. We will use data-driven policy to make sure that the growth is matching the real-time outcomes of assignments and whether they're understanding or need extra help in other ways to reach to 50% or higher efficiency mark.

I will support advanced teaching approaches by making sure this is doable not only for the teacher in the classroom but as well as the students to understand and is it helping us grow towards our proficiency goals.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

I believe we need to look at more intervention programs when it comes to kids not being on proficiency level of language arts and math. I believe it starts when they have support not only in the classroom but outside of the classroom.

When we have tutoring sessions and study hall I believe that's the best time to help kids get on track and truly focus on the subjects that are needed help with.

I believe group sessions help build kids with teamwork and critical thinking skills to be able to understand the subject at hand.

I believe project based and hand's on experience will help kids understand better, how to utilize their everyday learning into everyday experiences.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

I believe when we look at schools being properly funded. We need to truly look at where is our funding going and how will this help build our schools to not only be foundationally but together to help build success for every student that walks into that building.

I believe we need to make sure when we receive special grants and opportunity funds to help renovate our schools we are very crucial about all of our schools and what the needs are.

I would look to create a dashboard that is interactive for parents and Community to better understand how our money is being spent and where it's going to in real time for true transparency but also quick information and understanding.

I will continue to work with our budget and accreditations committee to find ways to not put ourselves in debt but working collaboration for the better of our district to keep our schools properly funded.

I would also want to create a Community committee for business owners, property owners on concerned citizens to voice their opinion as taxpayers on their local school issues and funding.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

I believe my two most principles that drive for policy of safety and schools would be students first and parent empowerment.

We understand safety for all children is the number one issue when being in school and we also know everyone's approach to public safety is different.

I will work to find ways to work for the whole child , the whole perspective of safety and how that would affect everyone inside of our schools.

I also believe safety is listening to our teachers, students and community about concerns of safety to make sure we are transparent and fully aware of the situation.

I will also do my best to have clear facts and information when investigations do prolong with involvement of our schools.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

I believe students, faculty and staff all deserve opportunity to attend to their mental health as we know 8 hours a day and 365 days a year education can put a toll on their mental health.

It's important that we find ways to take breaks in between stressful times and long days. Whether it's access to outdoor recreation, 10 minute counseling session or even short periods and many others

It's important that we find ways to take breaks as we have long years ahead of teaching and studying.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Why did the chicken cross the road

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

I would like to implement a new policy that involves our students at the Dias to be able to explain their experiences inside the classroom and what they would like to see different. I think it's important we put our students first not only in the class but in the policy that is affecting them in their everyday journey.

I would look to expand or create a curriculum that would let schools have similar programs such as boys enrichment at North Middle School to help kids with after school programs and build mentorship throughout the community.

I would look to create and expand policy that helps expand student readiness and workforce readiness to help build the local economy with small businesses and mentorship

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

I believe in ideal learning environment for students is where they have access firsthand and are able to utilize those different tools and their everyday learning and curriculum.

whether it's small computer labs inside the classroom, digital chalkboards to be able to explain lessons and interactive with assignments. 

We need to find ways to help uplift our children through their challenges and strengths.

Smaller class sizes would help students be able to have focus one-on-one and to figure out where the problems are to help build solutions and understanding

Project based assignments help kids understand the assignments better from different perspectives and ways to approach.

How do you feel like your school district handled the coronavirus pandemic? What, if anything, would you do differently in the future?

I believe we were an interesting times when the coronavirus pandemic was around and many things had to change for education.

I believe they did the best of their ability and to be as transparent as possible and to find ways to make sure that kids were able to come to school but in a safe manner.

I believe going forward we definitely need to be transparent as we know school age children is very easy for diseases to be carried around and the importance of parent empowerment to be involved in the school process of making the option of what's best to help continue their kids success throughout their school journey.

In the future I would be prepared the finding ways to keep updates on the local school website when it comes to different immunizations and pandemics that are potentially looming to help community members and parents stay in the know about what's going on locally in the schools and how they can stay prepared to keep their children safe.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

I will work with parents in my district by utilizing town halls to hear directly from the ones who trust us most to make sure their children are taken care of.

We also need to be open with our parents about the importance of being involved in their kids

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

We need to utilize data-driven strategies to find our common solutions and goals of better ways to recruit teachers. Whether that be period -to-peer outreach from our experience teachers to our newer enrolled.

We need to look at ways to utilize our retired staff and community members to stay involved and engaged in our school districts whether that before before or after school tutoring or is teacher assistants inside the classroom

I would suggest that we could pay a small stipend to community members to come back and get involved inside the local schools through the volunteer process of the district.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe its our duty as elected officials to be checks and balances of financial and government accountability. while be great stewarts to be transparent of where our money is coming from and how its being spent. We also need easier ways to show constant budgets that are constantly moving up and down.

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Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education At-large

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