Yes

That Jerome Jones. Great job.

Thank you*

In the interim, what is the plan? Might portable units be a workaround option?

Good morning! So my question is this. Why does DPS hire teachers that aren’t relating to our black children in a way to promote an exception learning outcome?

Our students don’t have 3 or 4 years

Thank you! We understand there is no easy nor expeditious fix.

where are the contractors?

how are the convos around Vocational coarse infusions into School districts curriculums, considering the lack of contractors avaable to finish the work on school facilities.

?

What part of the DPS budget is explicitly being used to address the lack of Black student engagement and the achievement gap that DPS has failed to solve the past several years?

Is the list for receiving air in the schools based on NEEDS? Are Those at the top at a greater need vs those at the bottom?

Will the plan to improve the data be shared with the NAACP and the public?

There is a lack of investment in counseling black students to prepare them for college.

are there any coming programs to address Black American children and their specific educational needs in light of the lack of specific cultural supports needed to help them?

Under performance and achievements gaps are related directly to work based experiences. How will DPS Leadership address the lack of access to workbased learning and apprenticeship experiences for Black students?

RECRUIT MORE BLACK TEACHERS!

Students have continually asked why there isn't representation of black teachers and leaders within the district that relate to them. What are you doing to protect Black DPS employees from targeted accusations and reports meant to drive them out of the district?

Any solutions?

Yes Samie! Also there must be an environment for Black teachers to be retained.

Will that data be open to the public?

that^^^ and there must be parental investment and buy in

What is the coronation to the black white learning gap, to hiring far more white teacher then black teachers?

I see part of the lack of aspirations being the lack of economic opportunities connected to the education investment kids and parents are asked to make. We also have to look at the economic opportunities that are lacking once our youth graduate from highschool

DPS just pushed out one of the premier pathway leaders in Eric Rowe. How serious can you really be about it?

How many teachers are there in DPS?How many are Black?What percentage of students in DPS are Black?What percentage of teachers in DPS are Black?What is the attrition rate of Black teachers?

Many parents have graduated from college and cannot afford to purchase a home in Denver. Where our grandparents didn't have a high school diploma but were buying homes in Denver. Economic opportunity is directly connected to our youth's willingness to work hard and aspire to do more.

Great questions Hashim Coates!

How will DPS leadership hold teachers accountable for implementing Black Excellence plans?

How do you value students finding external success as a result of being provided student apprenticeships? Why does the district react with possessiveness to independent student success?

You talk about students. Can speak to the black student population and what courses are they guided to?

For the data on learning opportunities, Where are Black students in ALL areas of education? i.g. reading, writing, comprehension, math, ...I am curious on the part that is not being talked about. Again, would love for the full or raw data to be shared. Iknow those with a higher skillset would be able to spot what I can't or don't know to ask for

When the pandemic hit cosmetologists and barbers were not able to earn a living. There needs to be more focus on skills development in areas that people need a product or service that people can not live without. Construction, water infrastructure, electrical design and redevelopment...

B. Jones, THAT PART! Were are Black students being guided?

Yeas Hashim and B. Jones! Very important point.

If economics rise gentrification doesn't happen. The conversation around Black economics has to be centered as a key issue. Shyretta H.

Black Mental Health is at critical mass for both teachers and students and we are seeing and experiencing daily fallout from this. What is the plan to address this? In light of that epidemic, wouldn't it be a priority to stabilize the Black work force rather than continuing to target Black educators?

I am the President

Why does displacement happen? At what point do Black people earn enough to be able to afford the change in times? Why is it we are always talking about programs and social justice movements instead of supporting, pushing and building Black economics.

Colorado Black Caucus of School Board Directors

there have been great questions in the chat. I know that they will not be enough time to get them answered today. Is there a way DPS could get a copy of the questions, provide the response/answers to the NAACP, and then the NAACP get those out to us?

Yes, we are capturing all of the questions posted in today's chat. We will forward them to Dr. Marrero and team after today's call

Many African American and Latino teachers and youth in DPS are dealing with external issues not being discussed. We just had a triple shooting near East HS days ago. Black teachers have a lot on their plates - Gang violence issues, trauma issues (with students or their own), finance issues, etc. Black teachers are tasked with teaching students, being their therapist, being a surrogate parent, being a Human Services Caseworker, etc all at once. It's a difficult career, especially if all of the underlining issues are not discussed or addressed.

forget about our partnership with UNC

@ T-Rob. Great point.

Come on Rocq, talk about it!

!!

VALID! Mr. LaCrosby hit the nail on the head.Black folks pave the way and others use our work to advance and use us as padding on the way paved

That’s a very LOW BAR for comparison.

Would Dr. Marrero and team be willing to provide contact information in the chat for future follow up?

There is an equity issue In DPS. When you have black leaders that work to create what you asked for, they get pushed out.

How are you actively using the KJKP resolution and valuing those creators? Instead of claiming it's meaning without action.

Students cannot achieve when the culture of the classroom and the school are lead micro aggressive educators who don’t see our children as capable. We have very few Black Principals and could never afford to lose the few we had in DPS, and yet, they’ve been removed often by a concerted effort of young, white minimally experienced teachers who demand those principals be removed when they demand white teachers engage with equity. My QUESTION: WHAT are the plans to address weaponizing of HR policies against black leaders by predominantly white teaching staff who resist engaging in equity work.

!!!

SAY THAT! I agree! BALCK STUDENTS! Let’s talk BLACK students!

TRUTH

"WHAT are the plans to address weaponizing of HR policies against black leaders by predominantly white teaching staff who resist engaging in equity work."

That is exactly what is happening!

^^^

THAT

Speak

And it is the top leadership that is doing this to us

We need to all get together and file our own civil rights complaint.

One way to help our youth until the education disparity is resolved is to get them involved in community organizations. Hands on experience in organizations is the greatest teacher of leadership skills and education opportunities they would not normally get in school anyway, and are focused on improving our youth instead of weeding out or conforming our youth. If you are a member of a community organization, please be sure to let the community know about you.

Great idea

!!!

I do not

YAASSS! That’s my point! Talk about Black leaders being removed and THE WHY they are being removed! Especially when those leaders are being pushed out by white teachers who are uncomfortable with requirements that they meet and address our BLACK students with equity and respect!

I am happy to share my closing letter from the district during my press conference with the Know Justice Know Peace young ladies

When you're losing at that rate then what good are the gains? This is why the focus should be on RETENTION….not just hiring.

FYI: Please send any youth interested in Nursing to the Colorado Council of Black Nurses Inc. We have a youth pipeline program we are growing as well as an annual space expo so that youth can see themselves as an integral part of space. Space Expo is at the end of September yearly (they can literally send postcards to space this year and receive them back). Go to www.ccbninc.org . Contact President Robin Bruce RN at President@ccbninc.org or fill out the contact form on the website.

My point wasn't about “Black Figureheads”....it was about having Black people in positions of power but yet the impact on Black leadership is STILL the same if NOT worse under Black educator retention.

"Adults claim they want the best for us (black students) and adults are in the way of us (black youth) succeeding." from the mouth of one of our after school youth.

@Ms. Bruce what are the age requirements for youth?

Hiring BLACK teachers has to be an UNAMBIGUOUS INTENTIONAL EFFORT. PERIOD.

Recruitment of teachers is one thing. RETENTION is another

Stop firing them would be great start!

sad part is, some black folks are not for BLACK FOLKS.

Unfortunate truth

And yet two Black school leaders were let go during this same time that you're saying this?

The Achievement Gap exists because we are failing to address the ACCESS GAP. Period.

If a black leader suggest they should hire more black teachers they are at risk

Stop throwing out the Black educators who are doing the work for black students that the district for some reason doesn't approve of. You can't replace people with purpose with people with no values in regard to the success of the black students they claim to care about.

Thank you for moderating beautifully Dr. Brigham.

Great job

How can we access this recording?

Thank you for this!

have a wonderful day everyone! stay positive and progressive