Meet the candidates: Denver school board

A majority of the Denver school board seats are at stake in the 2021 election — including three that represent neighborhood districts, Chalkbeat reports.

What's happening: The races cover a vast swath of the city — southwest's District 2, the southeast's District 3 and northeast's District 4.

• Two are open seats, and one features an incumbent seeking another term.

Of note: The entire district will vote on the open at-large seat.

District 2

Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán, 46, real estate agent

• She says her experience as an undocumented child in the district informs her perspective.
• Wants to see COVID-19 vaccination clinics in schools, as well as a nurse and mental health professional in every school.
• Expressed concern about "big box" charter schools and unaccountable innovation schools.

Karolina Villagrana, 33, educator

• She is focused on declining enrollment and wants to see community input, but did not provide specifics on how to address the downturn.
• Supports using money previously spent on law enforcement in schools for mental wellness.
• Wants to mandate equity plans for Black students in every school.

District 3

Mike DeGuire, 76, former principal and teacher

• Believes more infrastructure, such as air flow and ventilation, is needed to mitigate the coronavirus.
• Supports spending federal pandemic relief dollars on mental and social needs of students and staff.
• He says the current school choice system does not work and needs an overhaul.

Carrie Olson, 58, incumbent board member and adjunct professor

• She says more needs to be done to address financial and staffing shortages at neighborhood schools.
• Touted the current board's work to follow public health guidelines and upgrade equipment.
• She supported removing police officers from schools.

District 4

Gene Fashaw, 37, math teacher

• Believes the district's biggest concern is equity and more attention is needed on improving outcomes.

• He says the key to improving student achievement is prioritizing their mental health.
• Criticized the district for looking to armed security guards to replace police officers, saying more counselors are most needed.

Michelle Quattlebaum, 51, school community liaison

• She says the district's top concern is recruiting and retaining non-white teachers.
• Supports educational choice but wants to see more accountability in innovation schools.
• Wants ongoing cultural competency training and certification for staff.

Jose Silva, 41, nonprofit leader

• He says the budget is his top concern and pledged to lead a fiscal audit, saying the district spent millions "on frivolous partnerships."
• Wants the district to partner with organizations like his, the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health, to better focus on mental wellbeing.
• Argues his expertise in diversity and inclusion will allow him to lead a re-evaluation of the districts equity policies.

Read more about the candidates from our partners at Chalkbeat