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Susan Harmon
Susan Harmon was a member of the Jeffco Board of Education in Colorado, representing District 2. Harmon assumed office in 2015. Harmon left office on November 29, 2021.
Harmon ran for re-election to the Jeffco Board of Education to represent District 2 in Colorado. Harmon won in the general election on November 7, 2017.
Harmon ran as part of the Keep Jeffco Moving Forward candidate slate with fellow incumbents Brad Rupert and Ron Mitchell.[1] The three members also ran together as The Clean Slate in 2015.
Biography
Susan Harmon moved to Jefferson County in 1997. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Boulder and a J.D. from the Santa Clara School of Law. Harmon and her husband have two children who attended Jeffco Public Schools. She has been involved in the PTA and served six years on its elected board.[2]
Elections
2017
- See also: Jeffco Public Schools elections (2017)
Three of the five seats on the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education in Colorado were up for nonpartisan general election on November 7, 2017. In his bid for re-election to District 1, incumbent Brad Rupert defeated Matt Van Gieson. The District 2 race included incumbent Susan Harmon and Erica Shields. Harmon won re-election. District 5 incumbent Ron Mitchell ran unopposed and won another term on the board.[3] The three incumbents ran together as the Keep Jeffco Moving Forward candidate slate. They all won election to the board in a 2015 recall election.[4][5]
Results
| Jeffco Public Schools, District 2 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Susan Harmon Incumbent |
59.62% | 73,914 |
| Erica Shields | 40.38% | 50,053 |
| Total Votes | 123,967 | |
| Source: Jefferson Coun[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/71802/Web02-state/#/c/C_2 Colorado Secretary of State, "Official Results," accessed August 28, 2023 | ||
Funding
Harmon reported $54,092.33 in contributions and $52,305.77 in expenditures to the Colorado Secretary of State, which left her campaign with $1,786.56 on hand in the election.[6]
Endorsements
Harmon and the other members of the Keep Jeffco Moving Forward candidate slate were endorsed by the following organizations and elected officials:[7][8][9]
|
Harmon was also endorsed by former school board members. Click here for a list of her supporters.
2015
An effort to recall three members of the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education in Colorado was on the ballot on November 3, 2015.[10] Board members Julie Williams, John Newkirk, and Ken Witt from Districts 1, 2, and 5, respectively, were ousted from office with more than 60 percent of voters in each district casting ballots in favor of recall.[11]
A total of six candidates filed to replace the three incumbents up for recall. Brad Rupert ran for the seat held by Williams. Matt Dhieux and Susan Harmon campaigned for Newkirk's seat, and Regan Benson, Ron Mitchell, and Paula Noonan ran for Witt's seat. Rupert, Harmon, and Mitchell ran together as "The Clean Slate."[12][13] All three slate members were elected to replace Williams, Newkirk, and Witt.[11] They took office on November 19, 2015.[14]
The other two seats on the board—District 3 and District 4—were also on the ballot on November 3, 2015. They were up for general election. Neither incumbent filed to retain her seat in that election, meaning the district welcomed an entirely new board on November 19, 2015.[15]
Results
| John Newkirk, Area 2 Board Member, Jeffco Public Schools | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Recall | 115080 | 63.63% | ||
| Retain | 65770 | 36.37% | ||
| Election results via: Jefferson County, "Official County Results," November 20, 2015 | ||||
| Successor candidate, Area 2 Board Member, Jeffco Public Schools | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Susan Harmon | 96805 | 82.17% | ||
 Matt Dhieux | 21002 | 17.83% | ||
| Election results via: Jefferson County, "Official County Results," November 20, 2015 | ||||
Funding
Harmon reported $47,371.25 in contributions and $47,371.25 in expenditures to the Colorado Secretary of State, which left her campaign with $0.00 on hand as of the election.[16]
Endorsements
Harmon and the other members of "The Clean Slate" were endorsed by U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D).[12]
Campaign themes
2017
Candidate website
Harmon highlighted the following issues on her campaign website:
| “ | Susan decided to run in 2015 as a candidate for District 2 to restore civility to the board room, and address the loss of educators to other school districts. While the district has made good progress on both goals, Susan continues to be concerned about losing teachers, and will work to make sure teacher salaries in JeffCo are competitive with comparable districts. Susan’s continued vision is to provide all 86,000 students with a great education and opportunities to ensure they are all career or college ready by the time they graduate. In order to achieve this goal, JeffCo schools must push for greater equity in our programs and facilities for all students. Susan will continue addressing the diverse needs of our populations, and seek to close the achievement gap. Not all kids plan attend college/university. There are many great career paths available for these kids, and our district must continue expanding options for alternative pathways like the Buildings and Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Work Readiness Program at Arvada High School, and the programs offered at Warren Tech. While Susan believes that accountability is necessary, the goal is to maximize the time in the classroom for teaching, not “teaching to a test.” Susan is working to establish reliable methods of testing that provide immediate results that can assist the child, educator, and family in meeting the individual needs of each child’s success. Susan has been able to increase the supports for mental health in our schools, and will continue to make this a priority.
Susan strives to ensure that the community’s voice is reflected in her current decisions on the board by attending monthly PTA, Accountability Committee, and Community Connection meetings-meetings serving all elementary, middle, and high schools in articulation areas across the County.[17] |
” |
| —Susan Harmon (2017)[18] | ||
Chalkbeat Colorado survey
Harmon participated in the following survey conducted by Chalkbeat Colorado. The survey questions appear bolded, and Harmon'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?
| “ | I have lived in Jefferson County for 20 years. My husband and I live in Green Mountain and we have two children. They have attended our neighborhood schools for the last 11 years. Our daughter is an 8th grader at Dunstan Middle School and our son is a Sophomore at Green Mountain High School. I earned my B.S. from C.U. Boulder and my J.D. from Santa Clara University. I have been a practicing attorney for 25 years in various areas of law. I own and have managed my law firm in Lakewood for 9 years, working exclusively as a family law attorney helping families in crisis and transition.[17] | ” |
| —Susan Harmon (2017)[19] | ||
Tell us about your connection to the school district.
| “ | My husband and I selected our home in Jefferson County due to the great neighborhood schools. I was elected to the Rooney Ranch Elementary School PTA beginning when our oldest child entered first grade. I served on the PTA for five years (two as president and three as fundraising chair). I also served as the school legislative representative and was elected to the Accountability Committee where I served for two years. I love being an active participant in our amazing public schools. In addition to the time I spend touring the schools in District 2 as a board member, I continue to volunteer at career day, help with mock interviews at the high school, and attend community connection, accountability and PTA meetings in my children's schools.[17] | ” |
| —Susan Harmon (2017)[19] | ||
Superintendent Jason Glass recently announced a moratorium on school closures. Under what circumstances do you believe school closures, if ever, are correct to consider, and which factors should be weighed?
| “ | While serving on the School Board for the last two years, we received proposals recommending closures of a number of schools. These were very difficult meetings and proposals that no one likes to be faced with. Ultimately, we voted as a board to close one school and requested a review and input regarding polices and healthy procedures on recommendations regarding new schools, boundary change, and/or closures before they come before us again. Dr. Glass has responded to that request with his message in his recent community letter. I am looking forward to receiving input and updates on the process to address the current factors the board has used in the past when faced with such recommendations and addressing new or different considerations based upon community and cabinet input.[17] | ” |
| —Susan Harmon (2017)[19] | ||
Another focus of the new superintendent has been to concentrate more on equity issues. What do you think are the most critical equity issues facing Jeffco Public Schools, and what can the district do to ensure better opportunities and achievement for all students?
| “ | Inequities in our facilities and programs exist and have a direct impact on student populations and education. In terms of programs we need to focus on staff development throughout the district, and expanding our career pathway opportunities by enhanced access and partnerships with local businesses and industries; increased internships opportunities and project based learning. We need to continue our work on inclusive classrooms for diverse learners, including twice exceptional, GT, and special education students. I am excited about the transition of sixth graders to middle schools to provide that access for all 6th graders, that some of them have now, for enhanced learning through additional electives, social emotional supports, leadership, clubs, and other educational opportunities. We need to focus on early education through expanded preschool and full time kindergarten, as well as dual language programs. As Dr. Glass stated we need to 'start early and fight poverty'.[17] | ” |
| —Susan Harmon (2017)[19] | ||
What role do you believe charter schools should have in the district?
| “ | Charter schools play an important role in our school system. They are a part of the many options that exist in Jefferson County for students to find success. I believe that we need to work together as a district to ensure that all of our schools provide a quality education for all students and that all options, including charter schools, are available to all types of learners.[17] | ” |
| —Susan Harmon (2017)[19] | ||
Do you think the district should reconsider a ballot measure to ask voters for a tax increase for the school district? Is there something the district should do differently if they do ask?
| “ | The state continues to underfund K-12 education. As a member of the board I have worked with legislators to address the negative factor at the state level and the direct impact on Jefferson County students and families. Every neighboring district that asked voters for funding last year received it except for Jefferson County. If this underfunding continues, we have the option of returning to voters with a mill/bond proposal. In terms of an approach, communication and outreach is critical. Jefferson County schools serve very diverse populations. We need to better identify with unique populations we serve to ensure all voices are heard.[17] | ” |
| —Susan Harmon (2017)[19] | ||
What do you see as the biggest issue facing Jeffco schools today and how do you hope to have an impact on that issue as a school board member?
| “ | Lack of investment in our schools remains the biggest issue in Jefferson County. It impacts our ability to provide the best education for our 86,000 students we serve, and to remain competitive with neighboring districts. Our students, families and educators deserve better. We remain near the bottom of state ranking for per-pupil funding. If we increased investment in our schools through funding we will be able to directly address the facilities needs in many of our aging buildings, tackle bus driver and bus shortages, continue our work on reaching competitive salaries for our educators, provide full day kindergarten for all of our students, address the growth in certain areas and the seat capacity in our buildings, and expand career and technical education opportunities for more students through expansion of facilities and programs in our existing buildings.[17] | ” |
| —Susan Harmon (2017)[19] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Susan Harmon Jeffco Public Schools school board. 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 (2017)
- Jeffco Public Schools recall, Colorado (2015)
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Keep Jeffco Moving Forward, "Home," accessed October 24, 2017
- ↑ Susan Harmon for Jeffco Kids Facebook, "About," accessed October 14, 2015
- ↑ Jeffco Public Schools, "Election 2017," accessed September 2, 2017
- ↑ Keep Jeffco Moving Forward, "Home," accessed October 24, 2017
- ↑ El Paso County Elections Office, "Unofficial Results: HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 DIRECTOR," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "TRACER: Candidate Search," accessed December 18, 2017
- ↑ Support Jeffco Kids, "2017 Endorsements," accessed October 24, 2017
- ↑ Arvada Press, "Teacher unions support incumbents for Jeffco school board," October 18, 2017
- ↑ Keep Jeffco Moving Forward, "Endorsements," accessed October 25, 2017
- ↑ Chalkbeat Colorado, "Clerk: Jeffco school board recall will be on November ballot," September 3, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Jefferson County, "Unofficial County Results," November 3, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Chalkbeat Colorado, "6 candidates, including longtime critic, in running to replace Jeffco school board recall targets," September 28, 2015
- ↑ Colorado Independent, "Recall-backed Jeffco school board candidates skip conservative forum," September 1, 2015
- ↑ FOX 31 Denver, "Ousted Jefferson County school board members attend final meeting," November 5, 2015
- ↑ Jeffco Public Schools, "Board of Education Election 2015," accessed August 31, 2015
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Candidate Information - Election Year 2015: Harmon, Susan," accessed December 7, 2015
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Susan Harmon Jeffco School Board, "Issues," accessed October 24, 2017
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 Chalkbeat Colorado, "We asked the 2017 Jeffco school board candidates seven questions. Here are their responses." October 5, 2017
| Jeffco Public Schools elections in 2017 | |
| Jefferson County, Colorado | |
| Election date: | November 7, 2017 |
| Candidates: | District 1: • Incumbent, Brad Rupert • Matt Van Gieson District 2: • Incumbent, Susan Harmon • Erica Shields District 5: • Incumbent, Ron Mitchell |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
| 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 |
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