I am happy to endorse Scott Baldermann for District 1 on the Denver school board.
Scott is a native of Denver, a graduate of Aurora public schools, and a parent of children who attend Denver public schools.
He is an architect and software developer. He sold his small business and is now devoted to his children and their school. He is president of the PTA.
He has been endorsed by the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, the Colorado Education Association, and other professional groups, as well as by former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb.
Former Mayor Webb put the issue succinctly:
The Denver Public Schools philosophy of education reform has destroyed Cole Junior High and Manual High School, which houses three different schools. The current DPS Board of Education’s philosophy of education reform is not addressing these concerns and other issues. Therefore, I am endorsing a slate of three new candidates for the board supported by the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. They are: Tay Anderson for At-Large, Scott Baldermann for District 1, and Brad Laurvick for District 5.
Baldermann’s critics complain that he is funding his own campaign. This is the reverse of the usual scenario in Denver, where out-of-state groups like Democrats for Education Reform spend large sums to maintain control of the board by advocates for charters and testing.
If Scott can pay for his campaign, good for him!
Too often, the genuine supporters of public schools have been beaten by plutocrat money.
Scott Baldermann doesn’t need money from the Waltons, Charles Koch, Eli Broad, Reed Hastings, Michael Bloomberg or others who want to disrupt and privatize Denver’s public schools.
Scott is exactly the kind of public-spirited good citizen who should serve on the school board.
He is a true friend and supporter of Denver’s public schools.
I hope he is elected.
Another reason to vote for Scott Baldermann and the other grassroots candidates: Arne Duncan showed up in Denver to endorse their opponents and urge voters to continue supporting Obama’s “legacy” of charter schools, school closings, and high-stakes testing.
Vote for Scott Baldermann and vote for real public schools and a board led by public school parents, not NYC hedge funders or out-of-state billionaires.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
THANK YOU, Diane. We sure don’t need more charters. Arne Duncan needs to GO AWAY and tape his mouth with duct tape.
Yvonne, this is the person the grassroots community in Denver want.
https://m.facebook.com/jeff.fard/posts/3476213869063063
T Tucker is correct. Not only is Radhika Nath supported by grassroots in Denver, she’s also the more passionate, knowledgeable, and qualified candidate: she has a PhD in public policy and administration. She has the most donors to her campaign and is not self-funding to the tune of $350k for a volunteer school board position. She has also voted in every school board election in Denver since becoming a US citizen in 2011. Her opponent has voted in one Denver school board election in the past16 years. Her other opponent is backed by dark money and corporate reformers.
Amy,
I am guessing that the pro-public school forces are working to split their vote. That will allow the pro-Charter, pro-testing candidate to win. Poor strategy.
It’s really disappointing, but I suppose not surprising, that how much money one has and who one knows trumps qualifications, education, expertise, passion, and life experience. The “force” behind splitting the vote in Denver is likely the same person who asked you to endorse Baldermann. Sad.
So, which would you rather have,
an endorsement from Diane Ravitch or
opposition by Arne “Dunkin” Duncan?
I would go with the former, but the latter is quite the accolade as well. If Duncan hates something, it has to be good for teachers and kids.
Is there some national clearinghouse where I can find out which, if any, of the candidates in my local school board election are actually backed by the charter industry?
Check with NPE Action.
We don’t know about every local school board race but we endorse when asked, after checking out candidates.
This is actually not accurate. There is a 3rd person that many diverse people want elected in Denver. A true grass roots person.
Radhika Nath is the person people want. They want a person that represents the people.
The fight in Denver is nasty with a few bullying through verses community consensus.
YES, she is a really great candidate: on top of her energy and ability to see directly into the mess made by “reform” invasions, she is not a White male. Denver really does not need more White males leading anything, especially in a district made up of so many kids who are not White.
Please reconsider your endorsement. This is extremely disappointing. Scott is a nice guy and supportive parent volunteer, but he is not qualified for the position. Radhika Nath is also a supportive DPS parent, but what sets her apart and makes her the best candidate to beat dark money and corporate forces, is her background, expertise, passion for equity for all students and schools in Denver, and her authentic and grassroots community support. Also, she’s been civically engaged in her house district as a precinct captain and has voted in every DPS school board election since becoming a US citizen in 2011. Public voting records show that Scott Baldermann has voted in ONE Denver school board election in the past 16 years. Denver residents want our voices to be heard. We’re tired of our school board seats being bought and sold, no matter the shade of the money. Please watch this video taken by Brother Jeff Fard, a community activist who has endorsed Radhika:
The voters of District 1 will decide this election. I’m impressed by Scott Balderman, especially by the endorsement of the former mayor. The mayor’s endorsement was impressive and had a big impact on my views.
With all due respect, Mayor Wellington Webb also endorsed one of the most dangerous corporate reformers in Colorado:
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/hot-sheet/democrat-mike-johnston-lands-big-name-endorsements-in-us-senate/article_47d104ce-65f5-11e9-b190-1b9ab4999691.html
Radhika has support from diverse community leaders and organizations across the metro area, including Colorado Working Families Party; Our Revolution Metro Denver; Margaret Bobb, veteran DPS teacher and founder of the FB page, Flip the Board (formerly Fair Pay for Denver Teachers) that successfully mobilized our city in Support of our teachers during the Denver teacher strike last winter; former CO state house rep, Joe Salazar; and many notable others, none with ties to corporate reform. They can be found here: https://radfored.org/endorsements-1
Amy, the voters will decide. In the meantime, wouldn’t it have been better to combine behind one pro-public education Candace instead of splitting the vote?
So the right thing for Scott to do is drop out. And if you don’t live in Denver and aren’t spending 24/7 working to get in a candidate that the grassroots group wants, it seems like a mistake to endorse.
Did npe endorse Scott?
NPE did not endorse. I did. And I reiterate my endorsement here. The voters will decide.