as a Teacher With over 25 years of teaching experience in higher education and in the community, Jacqui is a Denver Public School Board candidate who received all her degrees from public education institutions. Her practical approach to learning is evidenced in her advanced degrees of practical math (finance, accounting, economics) and practical science (kinesiological & behavioral research in prevention.) Partnering with her husband, she combines her creative side with her practical education to create a successful health education business.

as Parent Jacqui’s words on being a parent:

“In 2016, my youngest child will graduate from Denver Public schools. My oldest entered DPS in 1994, and at least one of my three children has been attending Denver Public Schools since then.

The greatest pain of any parent is losing a child. Second to that is feeling that you failed in some way as a parent. The third greatest pain is to feel that the system has failed your child.

The greatest joy is to bring a healthy child into this world or adopt one as your own. Second is to feel that you have succeeded in giving your child the tools to succeed for themselves. The third greatest joy is to celebrate the immense ‘village that has helped to raise your happy child.’

I have experienced all of these pains and joys as a parent. I hope to use these experiences to make compassionate decisions as a DPS Board member. I have grown as a human being, been humbled by it all, and flourish to this day.

My children experienced their greatest successes in the system when integration of AMP (art, music and physical fitness) was present in their school curriculum. My husband and I also made sure that AMP was present in their home and spiritual life. Our society needs more people like me - parents of public school children, as well as successful products of public education - serving on the public school boards.”

as an Entrepreneur Jacqui’s understanding of general finances (including budgets) and her initiative, creativity, and abundant energy have allowed her family business to not only survive, but thrive in a competitive market. Her behavior change research supports studies that indicate that by reducing and sometimes eliminating art and music integration in our schools, we risk losing our competitive edge around the world. Overwhelming evidence is also showing that by eliminating physical activity, we endanger the mental, emotional, and physical health of our children and of our nation.

She has Never Believed that Art, Music and Physical Fitness are “Extracurricular!”

Art, Music and Physical Fitness need to part of the curriculum - not extra! They are the reason we all loved to go to school! If a child is being driven across town to attend a school of choice, then that is time not spent walking or biking to their neighborhood school. She has been advocating for policy changes which address EWAP (Exercise With A Purpose) and the Chinese Five Excellences since moving to Denver in 1988.

Jacqui decided to run for school board because her many years of working with local, state and national officials have influenced few to seriously address these critical issues. She decided she just had to “BE THE VOTE.”

She believes that Art, Music and Physical Fitness Create Enjoyable Learning...

For years we have balanced the budget in the schools by eliminating art, music and physical fitness programs (both physical activity and physical education) from the curriculum. Research shows that good nutrition contributes greatly to what Jacqui terms the “educating of the spirit.” As rates of obesity and depression rise among young people, the need exists to educate our children to do more in life than take multiple choice tests. Our schools should be just as responsible for a child’s fitness and creativity level as they are for their math scores. Research has shown that if education becomes nothing more than test taking, our young people will not compete well with those in other countries. American creativity is our greatest advantage in creating the new opportunities of the future.

Teachers, staff, parents and the greater community also need to be encouraged to model these healthy behaviors. The teachers need to be better prepared for integrating music, art and physical activities into their teaching day. We need to do more than think outside the box when it comes to strengthening our neighborhood schools, we need to “ACT OUTSIDE THE BOX!”

We need to realize that adults may transfer our job dissatisfaction and stress to our children and we need to lighten up and make learning fun for all children, parents, and teachers. We have taken the "spirit" out of public education and our lives because we have separated our minds from our bodies. Our physical interaction with our world through writing poetry, drawing a picture, acting in a play, singing a song or playing a drum are just as important as the physical act of walking to school. They give us a greater reason to graduate than just to find a job.

Improved Discipline in the Classroom translates to Greater Learning!

Although the school district has made attempts to improve behavior in DPS Schools, there are still too many parents who are pulling their children out of the public schools to put them in private or other school districts. These parents often cite the need for greater discipline and having their child feel safe as major reasons for their child’s not learning. A child’s energy needs to be used to enhance their learning, not suppressed with drugs. Physical Activity, Music, and Art have all been shown to effect a child’s ability to cope with stress. Children cannot learn in a chaotic environment, no matter how many tests they are required to take.

Teachers and principals must be supported in enforcing discipline policies and the district needs to respond to concerns about its policies when they arise. The schools must be given real tools to create order out of the chaos. Those real tools should include physical fitness, music and art.

Teachers and their Principals need Greater Autonomy and Money in the Classrooms!

As we are forced to make even more budget cuts with the current economy, we must make certain that we maintain the best teachers we can find... and give them the art, music, and physical fitness integration resources and training to do the job for which we will hold them accountable. We need to keep the teachers and principals who are dedicated to the joy of learning and passing that enthusiasm on to the next generation. If cuts are to be made, then reducing the number of salaried administrative positions should be considered before cutting further into the classroom resources.

You should Vote for Jacqui because...
Her Real Life Experience is a Dynamic Combo... as a Teacher, as a Parent, and as an Entrepreneur!

The Issues

KIDS are our FUTURE!!!
These big kids are modeling how to AMP their Brains...
because (physical) ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS (standardized tests).

KIDS are our FUTURE!!!

Communication from the district... Communication to the district...

We need to put the "joy" back in learning and teaching! (and keep it for those that still have it)

Math and Science,,, English and Social Studies... Art, Music and Physical Fitness ALL need to part of the curriculum and part of every after school program.

Why did we all love to go to school! It was recess and art and singing... and the enthusiastic teachers who loved their jobs and gave us their ALL every day... they made the "boring" subjects "interesting!" The restrictions on the teachers and their principals to meet the standardized testing rigor is creating a tough, and tedious learning environment.

Neighborhood schools allow us to be more as a community!

If a child is being driven across town to attend a school of choice, then that is time not spent walking or biking to their neighborhood school. It is often not spent singing and drawing. Jacqui has been advocating for policy changes which address EWAP (Exercise With A Purpose) and the Chinese Five Excellences (Brush, Zither, Sword, Chess and Book) since moving to Denver in 1988.

Jacqui decided to run for school board because her many years of working with local, state and national officials have influenced few to seriously address these critical issues. She decided she just had to “BE THE VOTE.”

There is more after high school than college!

Denver's work force needs to be better prepared as entrepreneurs!

For years we have balanced the budget in the schools by eliminating art, music and physical fitness programs (both physical activity and physical education) from the curriculum. (Research shows that good nutrition contributes greatly to what Jacqui terms the “educating of the spirit.”) As rates of obesity and depression rise among young people, the need exists to educate our children to do more in life than take multiple choice tests. Our schools should be just as responsible for a child’s fitness and creativity level as they are for their math and science scores.

Research has shown that if education becomes nothing more than test taking, our young people will not compete well with those in other countries. We need to revisit and encourage practical skill classes - like "home economics" and "woodworking." American creativity is our greatest advantage in creating the new opportunities of the future.

Educate the Spirit! Act Outside the Box!

Teachers, staff, parents and the greater community also need to be encouraged to model these healthy behaviors. The teachers need to be better prepared for integrating music, art and physical activities into their teaching day. We need to do more than think outside the box when it comes to strengthening our neighborhood schools, we need to “ACT OUTSIDE THE BOX!”

We need to realize that adults may transfer our job dissatisfaction and stress to our children and we need to lighten up and make learning fun for all children, parents, and teachers. We have taken the "spirit" out of public education and our lives because we have separated our minds from our bodies. Our physical interaction with our world through writing poetry, drawing a picture, acting in a play, singing a song or playing a drum are just as important as the physical act of walking to school. A student who likes to work with their hands instead of a computer can often find more meaningful employment. We need a greater reason to graduate than just to find a job... and when we find that job, we need to honor all the skills it takes to make our society great.

Improved Discipline and Resources in the Classroom translates to Greater Learning!

Although the school district has made attempts to improve behavior in DPS Schools, there are still too many parents who are pulling their children out of the public schools to put them in private or other school districts. These parents often cite the need for greater discipline and having their child feel safe as major reasons for their child’s not learning. A child’s energy needs to be used to enhance their learning, not suppressed with drugs. Physical Activity, Music, and Art have all been shown to effect a child’s ability to cope with stress. Children cannot learn in a chaotic environment, no matter how many tests they are required to take.

Teachers and principals must be supported in enforcing discipline policies and the district needs to respond to concerns about its policies when they arise. The schools must be given real tools to create order out of the chaos. Those real tools should include physical fitness, music and art.

Teachers and their principals need greater autonomy and money in the school buildings!

As we are forced to make even more budget cuts with the current economy, we must make certain that we maintain the best teachers we can find... and give them the art, music, and physical fitness integration resources and training to do the job for which we will hold them accountable. We need to keep the teachers and principals who are dedicated to the joy of learning and passing that enthusiasm on to the next generation.

If cuts are to be made, then reducing the number of salaried administrative positions at the district level should be considered before cutting further into the classroom resources.

Oh...and one more thing -
TOO MUCH MONEY is needed to get people elected to these volunteer positions!

That's right... there is no pay for these school board positions. I am definitely running because I believe that our public education system needs some help and creative solutions!

Who in their right mind - in this tough economy - would run for this public servant position? We are told by everyone who has dealt with school board elections that YOU HAVE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY to get people to take your campaign seriously... Hmm... How much should that be?

What if we really care about getting our kids the education that they all deserve? Shouldn't we be focusing our fundraising efforts on supplying education needs - not on getting ourselves elected?

That said, please contribute a minimal amount to my campaign... I promise to work on public financing for school board elections NEXT!

I hope you are smiling... and singing!