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Kyla Armstrong-Romero
Kyla Armstrong-Romero was an at-large member of the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education in Colorado. Armstrong-Romero assumed office on December 5, 2017. Armstrong-Romero left office on November 30, 2021.
Armstrong-Romero ran for re-election for an at-large seat of the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education in Colorado. Armstrong-Romero won in the general election on November 7, 2017.
She was affiliated with the Democratic Party, but the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education and the election were officially nonpartisan.[1]
Armstrong-Romero participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 school board candidate survey. Click here to read her responses.
Biography
Armstrong-Romero received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado, Denver, her Master of Science from Regis University, and her Ph.D. from Capella University. She has worked as a counselor and social caseworker. The 2017 election was her first time running for office.[1]
Elections
2017
- See also: Aurora Public Schools elections (2017)
Four of the seven seats on the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education in Colorado were up for nonpartisan general election on November 7, 2017. The race included incumbent Barbara Yamrick and challengers Kyla Armstrong-Romero, Jane Barber, Kevin Cox, Debra Gerkin, Marques Ivey, Miguel In Suk Lovato, Gail Pough, and Lea Steed. Armstrong-Romero, Cox, Gerkin, and Ivey won the spots on the board.[2]
Results
| Aurora Public Schools, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Kevin Cox |
16.58% | 12,636 |
| Debra Gerkin |
16.26% | 12,391 |
| Kyla Armstrong-Romero |
15.13% | 11,527 |
| Marques Ivey |
12.9% | 9,830 |
| Gail Pough | 9.76% | 7,441 |
| Miguel In Suk Lovato | 8.91% | 6,793 |
| Jane Barber | 7.15% | 5,447 |
| Barbara Yamrick Incumbent | 7.07% | 5,385 |
| Lea Steed | 6.25% | 4,760 |
| Total Votes | 76,210 | |
| Source: Arapahoe County, Official Results," accessed August 28, 2023 and Adams County Elections Office, "Official Results," accessed August 28, 2023 | ||
Funding
Armstrong-Romero reported $7,418.83 in contributions and $3,606.12 in expenditures to the Colorado Secretary of State, which left her campaign with $0.00 as of December 8, 2017.[3]
Endorsements
Armstrong-Romero was endorsed by the Aurora Education Association, the Aurora Sentinel, Our Revolution Metro Denver, and the BlueFlower Fund.[4][5][6][7]
Campaign themes
2017
Ballotpedia survey responses
Kyla Armstrong-Romero participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates.[8] In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on September 5, 2017:
| “ | If elected to the school board, I hope to achieve transparency and accountability. We are public servants and should be held accountable to the teachers, school staff, students, families, administration, and the community. As a board member, it is our responsibility to do the following: Putting plans, procedures, programs, and systems in place to achieve a clearly defined, desired result; Monitoring those plans, procedures, programs, and systems against appropriate benchmarks or measures of effectiveness; Changing the plans, procedures, etc., if they are not proving successful in achieving the desired result. I am not afraid of speaking for or against issues. I am not afraid to stand up for what is right, even when it may not be a popular choice. I’ve made significant policy changes in the Juvenile Justice Field in Denver and have had an impact on the rate in which juveniles are detained (we are at an all-time low at our detention facility). I want to make changes in my own community and increase our graduation rates and decrease dropout rates. I am not a politician and this is not a means for me to use this as a platform for me to move on to another political arena; I am truly invested in education and I want to make a difference. I know what many of the problems are that our families face in our community, because I experienced many of them myself. I also was a victim advocate for Aurora Police; I was in the community supporting families and attending back to school nights with them. I know many of the SRO’s at the area schools. I am an educator, I taught English in Mexico and teach undergraduate and graduate courses at Colorado Technical University so I understand the importance of the voice of the teacher. Lastly, I am always accessible and very dedicated.[9][10] | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in Colorado. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Expanding school choice options | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| “ | It is very difficult to rate them in terms of one being more important than the other; I think that there are several items that have equivalence in terms of importance.[10] | ” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (September 5, 2017) | ||
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer eight questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.
| Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.) |
|---|
| No. Public education is inclusive of all students; not just a certain demographic, social class, etc. Charter schools have specific criteria that does not make education accessible to all students. Furthermore, charter schools do not have the same criteria for educators and administrators. Some charter schools do not require a bachelor’s degree for teachers. Furthermore, resources for public education are reduced because of charter schools. There are also increasingly large waiting lists for students. School choice was intended to offer alternatives to traditional public education and create new methods that improve education. The veracity of its intent has been widely questioned since there are not the same standards of education, targeted outcomes, and consistency among hiring practices. |
| Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| The state should defer to school board decisions in most cases. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| No. I am someone who truly struggled with standardized testing throughout my academic career. I struggled with significant test anxiety and by no means was the test a measure of my success. I did not have the best test scores, but I went on to get a Bachelors, Masters, and a Doctorate Degree. |
| How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district? |
| Offer additional training options. Offer additional training options. Put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve. Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| Yes. With the rising costs of housing and healthcare, it is necessary that teachers receive merit pay. Many other professions receive merit pay as a way to show the employee that they are valued and the work they are doing is not going unnoticed. Teachers have a very difficult job and it is important for them to feel valued and I know that money does not equate to value, but it sure does help. |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. According to the NCSL, "Colorado does not have a state-enacted voucher program. The Douglas County School District, however, created a voucher program within its district for low-income students. The state Supreme Court ruled the program unconstitutional in 2015, but the case has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The district is currently attempting to limit the program to nonreligious private schools.
The answer to this question is very similar to my response in question number 10. The money that goes to private schools reduces the money that is available to public schools. Private schools do not serve all children, only a certain demographic. Most private schools have a strict and specific criteria for admission. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| Expulsion should only be used in very extreme cases, where all other options (Restorative Practices, Suspension, etc) have been exhausted.
Working in the juvenile justice field, I see cases where students are impacted daily by discipline and safety issues that arise in the school. Schools with zero-tolerance policies criminalize minor behaviors and students with behavioral issues, trauma, learning disabilities only make them vulnerable to picking up charges and being involved in the justice system. Students with the aforementioned issues may get pushed out and isolated. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Student-teacher ratio. There are several factors for success and I believe that all of these factors play a key role. Research shows that children tend to thrive in school when their parents/guardians are actively engaged in their educational career. The teachers play a critical role in student engagement and how they implement the curriculum. The morale is increased if the teachers feel supported by the school administration. The student to teacher ratio is very important, because there are a lot of distractions in the classroom and if the student feels like they are not getting the attention that they need, then they won't be engaged. |
Armstrong-Romero provided the following description of her political philosophy to Ballotpedia:
| “ | With a commitment to a vision of high expectations for student achievement and accountability, Dr. Armstrong-Romero would be an asset to the Aurora Public School Board. She is a fearless leader who is extremely passionate about justice, community, education, and policy reform.[1][10] | ” |
| —Dr. Kyla Armstrong-Romero, 2017 | ||
She added:
| “ | With experience in public, private, and non-profit sector, Dr. Armstrong-Romero spent several years bringing people together around challenging issues: encouraging diverse voices and points of view; modeling and engaging in the art of generous listening; working together for positive change. The Aurora Public School Board needs a member with a strong background for advocacy, change, passion, and innovation.[1][10] | ” |
| —Dr. Kyla Armstrong-Romero, 2017 | ||
Chalkbeat questionnaire
Armstrong-Romero participated in the following questionnaire conducted by Chalkbeat. The questions provided by the news organization appear bolded, and Armstrong-Romero’s responses follow below.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you lived in the school district? What do you do for a living?
| “ | As I mention in the next question, I moved around quite a bit as a child. Although we moved a lot, I mostly grew up in Aurora and call Aurora my home. I've lived in our current home for about two years.
I am the director of the Second Judicial District Senate Bill 94 Program which is a program that serves at-risk youth and provides alternatives to incarceration. I also teach graduate and undergraduate courses at Colorado Technical University. I am extremely passionate about learning and education. In the past, I worked as a social caseworker with the Department of Human Services and I’ve also worked for the Aurora Police Department as a victim advocate. I was recognized as a community hero in 2012 for my work in the community and as a first responder with the Aurora Theater Tragedy. I have a Ph.D. in Human Services and a Master of Science Degree in Criminology. My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish and I’ve lived in Argentina and Mexico. As an educator and juvenile justice professional, I have a well-rounded view point. My unique background of higher education, juvenile justice, advocacy, and serving non-profits can bring a fresh perspective to what should be a well-rounded, community-minded School Board. My educational background and experiences provide for a unique perspective on where education is and where the educational industry is potentially heading. I want the very best education possible for my children and all children, because I know first-hand how important a good education is and where it can take you.[10] |
” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
Tell us about your connection to the school district.
| “ | Growing up, I had an adverse childhood, we dealt with issues of homelessness, Department of Human Services involvement, Criminal Justice System involvement, etc. I attended 14 different elementary, middle, and high schools. Although we moved around a lot, I lived in Aurora for a good portion of my elementary, middle, and high school years. I went to Lansing Elementary School for the fifth grade. I had a teacher by the name of Ms. Fisch. She is one of the few teachers that I remember by name, because she had that much of an impact on me. She taught me that I did not have to be a victim of circumstance at a young age and she helped me learn ways to cope with issues that I had at home. She introduced me to different books where I developed a passion for reading and used it as an escape from reality. I graduated from Overland High School, many of my peers chose different pathways in life, but I continued to pursue education. I graduated with my Doctorate Degree at 30 years old, which tells you how passionate I am about learning and about education.[10] | ” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
The district’s state test scores improved this year, enough to lift the district’s state quality rating and get APS off the accountability clock. Why do think the district was able to achieve this, and do you think APS is on the right track?
| “ | I think that the District is on the right track to improve; however, there are still many steps to take to further improvement. The strategic plan and goals for 2020 in partnership with the community was a decision that I strongly agree with. Incorporating the families, teachers, and students into a plan for improvement and giving them measurable steps to achieve success is very important. There is potential to make APS the greatest school district in the state. We can improve our graduation/completion rates. We can also improve the drop-out rates. It will take an active and involved board to ask necessary questions, to get involved in the schools, and engage the community. Good school systems are derived from good school boards. Aurora is a diverse melting pot of different cultures; it is important that we support ALL students and ALL families to truly transform our schools.[10] | ” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
Some candidates have said they would like the school board to have more accountability or transparency. What would you say to that, and should anything change on that issue?
| “ | I would agree that accountability and transparency are important and should be priorities of the board. It should be a priority to involve and include parents, teachers, students, families. Recognizing that the students and their families come from more than 131 countries and speak more than 133 languages, it is imperative that we offer community resources to recruit culturally appropriate and responsive supports for our kids and families. If we want more parent and student engagement, it is important that there are resources to support, encourage, and empower them to be more involved. School Board Directors are elected by their community and should be held accountable by their community. They deserve to be engaged and that should not stop once the election is over. We can't engage the community only in the issues that make us look good...This election is very important; the board, faculty, students, and community deserve new leadership and fresh perspectives.[10] | ” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
Aurora has sought to increase school quality by recruiting the high-performing charter school network DSST. Is this a sound strategy and was the process sound, or would you have done anything differently?
| “ | Public education is inclusive of all students; not just a certain demographic, social class, etc. Charter schools have specific criteria that does not make education accessible to ALL students. Some families and students do prefer charter schools and I personally know several families in Denver that speak very highly of the DSST models. In reading resolution 20170531, it was still not clear as to how the DSST would be funded. The proposal was for APS to pay no more than half of the cost of "the facility"; but, two schools are expected to be opened (maybe two additional?). In conducting some research, it is not clear whether the DSST will be able to fund both schools. Funding is a critical component to garner sustainability and success. In opening a new school, any school, it is important to discuss enrollment, funding, and recruiting and retaining quality teachers, etc.[10] | ” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
What role do you believe local school boards should have in reviewing, approving or managing charter schools that wish to open in the district?
| “ | If the charter school falls into the APS school district, like Global Village and others, it is imperative that the school board hold them accountable in the same manner every other school is held accountable. There should be the same or VERY similar standards and expectations.[10] | ” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
Aurora Public Schools is likely to continue facing budget issues. What funding do you think ought to be cut, and how should the district go about deciding what should be cut?
| “ | It is the responsibility of the board to evaluate every program that APS has and its efficacy. This includes any private contracts that the district has and how they are held accountable. It is important to have transparency and an improvement of communication about how any potential cuts will impact the entire district. Education needs to be the primary focus of the board and decisions should not impact overall service delivery and/or access to education for ALL students. We need to be very strategic in how we make our decisions and involve key stakeholders in the decision-making process. It is critical that the Board focuses on programs to strategize improvement and student growth.[10] | ” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
Do you agree with the resolution the school board passed earlier this year to support immigrant and refugee students? How would you judge what the district is doing to respond to the concerns of those communities?
| “ | Yes, I would have voted in support of this resolution. Public schools serve ALL students. Students should not fear coming to school and school should be a safe place that is absent of any political rhetoric that is not inclusive of all people. I wholeheartedly agree that education plays a critical role in empowering our society and paves a way for equity and opportunity. I want all students and families to know that they are supported by Aurora Public Schools. We have a responsibility to foster growth and empower our students and families; their voices will not be silenced. I would judge what the district is doing by engaging the community's voice and obtaining direct feedback.[10] | ” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
What do you see as the biggest issue facing Aurora schools today and how do you hope to have an impact on said issue as a school board member?
| “ | Quality education for all students is a number one priority. Based on my research and understanding of key issues in Aurora Public Schools, there are several top priorities and concerns that I'd like to address. One of the top issues is performance. Several Aurora Public Schools have low performance due to a myriad of issues which may range from issues pertaining to the student to issues pertaining to the school. Issues pertaining to the student may include: poverty; low attendance; transportation; housing; medical problems; learning and/or emotional disabilities; etc. Issues pertaining to the school may include: lack of/limited availability of resources (books, technology, and supplies); inadequate facilities; overcrowded classrooms; teacher shortages/turnover rates; etc. Some of the differences in school performance can be attributed to the issues pertaining to the student versus the school.
I think it is important to focus on the performance of the student as an individual rather than the school. I know that may be a difficult feat for the roughly 40,000 students in the district, but I think it is very important because there is a vast array of factors that impact performance that cannot be generalized. It is Board of Education’s role to do the following: Put plans, procedures, programs, and systems in place to achieve a clearly defined, desired result; Monitor those plans, procedures, programs, and systems against appropriate benchmarks or measures of effectiveness; Change the plans, procedures, etc., if they are not proving successful in achieving the desired result. As a board member, it will be my duty to go beyond the prescribed role and really invest in our students and teachers and find out exactly what is working and what needs to be changed. I am inquisitive by nature and changing the current environment will require board members with the fortitude and courage to ask questions and become fully involved in what is going on in our low performing schools.[10] |
” |
| —Kyla Armstrong-Romero (2017)[11] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Kyla Armstrong-Romero Aurora Public Schools school board. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Information submitted on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form on September 26, 2017
- ↑ Aurora Public Schools, "APS Board of Education Election," accessed September 7, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance Database: Political Race Search," accessed December 8, 2017
- ↑ Aurora Education Association, "2017 Board of Education Endorsements," September 5, 2017
- ↑ Aurora Sentinel, "Endorsements: 2017 Aurora City Council, APS elections promise change — our picks to ensure it," October 12, 2017
- ↑ Facebook, "Our Revolution Metro Denver," accessed October 31, 2017
- ↑ Colorado BlueFlower Fund, "BlueFlower Fund Endorses 33 for November 2017 Candidates," accessed October 31, 2017
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2017, "Kyla Armstrong-Romero's responses," September 5, 2017
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 Chalkbeat, "We asked the 2017 Aurora school board candidates nine questions. Here are their responses," October 5, 2017
| Aurora Public Schools elections in 2017 | |
| Arapahoe County, Colorado | |
| Election date: | November 7, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Barbara Yamrick • Kyla Armstrong-Romero • Jane Barber • Kevin Cox • Debra Gerkin • Marques Ivey • Miguel In Suk Lovato • Gail Pough • Lea Steed |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
