What I Will Do on the Board
Listen to and engage with parents, teachers, students and community members to better understand and address the challenges and opportunities they face
Ensure that DPS policies are responsive to each school's needs and support each school's ability to provide a quality education for every student
Make sure the Board and the District are held accountable for making responsible decisions that positively impact student achievement and success
Demand transparency, openness and genuine engagement with the public in all Board decisions
Bring people together to address the persistent achievement gap that exists among our students
Work to ensure that every child in Denver has access to quality early childhood education
Increase the Graduation Rate
Denver's graduation rate must improve. Too many students are falling through the cracks, and too many families are losing faith in the promise of public education. Happy believes the Board must set aggressive but achievable targets for graduation rates across every DPS high school, and hold the district accountable for meeting them.
This means investing in proven school reform strategies: early intervention for struggling students, expanded access to college-prep and career-readiness programs, and ensuring that every student has a caring adult who knows them by name and advocates for their success.
Community Involvement
For six years, Happy led DPS's community engagement efforts. She knows that meaningful engagement goes beyond surveys and town halls. It requires meeting families where they are, listening to their concerns in their language, and creating genuine feedback loops where community input shapes district decisions.
The Board must be accessible and responsive. Happy will bring her decades of experience building partnerships between government, schools, nonprofits, and neighborhoods to ensure that every community in Denver has a voice in the decisions that affect their children.
Student Engagement
Create more opportunities for students to participate in decision-making processes that affect their education
Expand access to arts, music, athletics and enrichment programs that keep students engaged and motivated
Support innovative approaches to learning that connect classroom instruction to real-world experiences
Ensure that every student has access to college and career counseling starting in middle school
Address the social and emotional needs of students so they can focus on learning
Teachers and DPS Employees
Support competitive compensation and benefits that attract and retain the best teachers in Colorado
Provide meaningful professional development opportunities that help educators grow in their craft
Reduce class sizes and administrative burdens so teachers can focus on what they do best: teaching
Create a culture of respect and collaboration between the Board, administration, and DPS employees at every level
Ensure that teacher voices are heard and valued in decisions about curriculum, assessment, and school improvement
