Mike DeGuire
Mike DeGuire ran for election to the Denver Board of Education to represent District 3 in Colorado. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.
DeGuire completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mike DeGuire was born in Battles Wharf, Alabama. He received a bachelor's degree from Spring Hill College in 1966 and a graduate degree and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Denver, in 1973 and 1980, respectively. DeGuire's professional experience includes being an educator effectiveness specialist for the Colorado Department of Education, an executive coach for Denver Public Schools, and a realtor for Gerretson Realty.[1]
Elections
2021
See also: Denver Public Schools, Colorado, elections (2021)
General election
General election for Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 3
Incumbent Carrie Olson defeated Mike DeGuire in the general election for Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 3 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Carrie Olson (Nonpartisan)  | 69.7 | 22,296 |
 | Mike DeGuire (Nonpartisan) | 30.3 | 9,678 | |
| Total votes: 31,974 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2021
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mike DeGuire completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by DeGuire's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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As the father of a daughter who works as a counselor in DPS, and as someone who has been coaching DPS principals and leaders for the past nine years, I understand the urgent needs of students, teachers, and all district staff. We need new leadership on the Board to restore our trust in DPS and to focus on the real challenges facing our students today.
- Students are more than test scores. They must be afforded consistent opportunities to participate in the arts, and increased exposure to the trades through project based learning, internships, apprenticeships, and more involvement in extra-curriculars. For students to be prepared for the future, they need more experiences in learning life skills and developing the mindsets to to think critically, problem solve, and develop empathy though collaboration with others. Standardized tests should not be the primary determinant of student achievement or school quality. More focus on formative ongoing assessments will help students learn through engaging , relevant learning experiences.
- We need new experienced leadership to address the real challenges facing students today. The current board has not demonstrated the ability to adequately address the full range of student needs, nor to ensure that all students are on a path to achieve to their fullest potential. In addition, the funding for local schools has been woefully inadequate and inequitable for students in many areas of the district.
- Teachers and all staff need to honored for their professionalism and given the necessary time and supports to uncover each child's individual skills, interests, and passions. The current evaluation systems are based on a deficit model rather than an asset-based model and they need to be reexamined and revised. Teachers need additional supports to address the mental and social-emotional needs of students today.
I am also committed to guaranteeing opportunities for all students to experience the arts, the trades, and to engage in relevant learning experiences that will tap into their interests and strengths. DPS needs to offer students systematic exposure to work opportunities through internships, apprenticeships, and project-based learning to develop students' critical thinking, creativity, and complex problem-solving skills in addition to learning academics. In DPS, we need to reexamine the current budgeting policies based on student enrollment and consider alternative ways to support the programming and resource needs of every school no matter their school size.
The time is now to address the full range of our students’ needs and to ensure they can reach their full potential. There is new research on how children learn, new knowledge about students’ mental and social emotional needs, and new information on the skills and mindsets students need to thrive in our fast-changing technological world. I would be honored to be part of the work necessary to address these critical challenges. It would be fulfilling for me as a citizen to know that I could contribute to policies that help all students experience increased achievement and a heightened sense of well-being in all aspects of their learning and overall personal development.
There are also number of grants and outside sources of money that the district receives every year. There needs to be increased oversight as to the disbursement and purpose of these resources as they relate to the overall budget itself. How these decisions are made on which schools receive additional resources and for what purposes needs to be more transparent. All additional outside money that becomes available to some schools should be documented and guidelines on their use established by the district. The opportunity for economies of scale in DPS are significant, yet they have not been employed judiciously nor with oversight as we continue to function as if we are a district of individual schools instead of one school district.
The present structure is one that fosters isolated conversations about individual school needs. I would establish a process for parents in different parts of the districts to visit schools and meet with other parent groups across the district in order to expand the understanding of the needs of the entire community. There are budget and resource issues facing small schools today in all areas of the district, and it is critical that we create processes for increased learning and collaboration across all schools about the needs and goals of each school community. For too long, the district has been divided into silos. However, there is great benefit in working together to effect the necessary changes in budget allocations, program offerings, and resource supports for all schools. In addition, cross school communication and awareness of various needs will help build a collective vison and commitment to improve the learning outcomes for all students across the district. It’s long last time to focus more on shared values and goals versus a “competitive” mindset. Our students need us to work together across all areas of the district to improve the life skills and learning outcomes for every student no matter where they live.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
DeGuire's campaign website stated the following:
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Mike will work with the Board to define a clear vision of learning and well-being for all students, monitor student growth in every aspect of their development, and fully fund the local needs of each school. Mike will work with the Board to define a clear vision of learning and well-being for all students, monitor student growth in every aspect of their development, and fully fund the local needs of each school. LEARNING AND WELL-BEING “STUDENTS ARE MORE THAN TEST SCORES” For students to thrive in the future, they need to learn life skills, complex problem solving, and citizenship, along with academics. Teachers need the time and the support to practice the ART of teaching along with the SCIENCE of teaching by using their professional know-how to unlock each student’s individual interests and passions. EVERY SCHOOL CAN BE GREAT “CELEBRATE THE STRENGTHS OF EACH SCHOOL” Every school can offer a comprehensive, meaningful learning experience designed to help each student grow socially, emotionally, physically, and academically. Effective leadership, qualified, dedicated teachers and support staff, and involved families are the core ingredients to a caring, environment for students. FAIR AND EQUITABLE RESOURCES “PRIORITIZE TAX DOLLARS TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL” Every school should have adequate resources for the arts, mental health and social-emotional supports, technology, extra-curriculars, and community outreach, in addition to academics. Central supports and outside services must be budgeted primarily to meet the individual school’s identified needs. School size should not limit a school's ability to provide high levels of school quality.[2] |
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| —Dr. Mike DeGuire[3] | ||
See also
2021 Elections
External links
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Candidate Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 3 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 12, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Dr. Mike DeGuire, "Goals," accessed October 4, 2021
