2 weeks Ago
Thelma Grimes (Editor's Note: This is a part of a series of stories where Colorado Politics interviewed the candidates of the State Board of Education regarding public education funding, policies and other issues.) Four seats are open on the State Board of Education in 2024 and only one incumbent is seeking reelection. Districts 2, 3, 4, and 8 seats are up grabs in the November election.
The State Board of Education is comprised of nine elected board members. Currently, there are six Democrats and three Republicans on the board. The district boundaries align with the state’s eight Congressional Districts with one at-large seat, which was created in redistricting in 2022.
Board members serve staggered six-year terms. The State Board of Education provides educational leadership for the state, including appointing key personnel, approving the Department of Education budget, and setting rules, regulations and policies governing education levels between kindergarten and 12 grade. The Colorado Department of Education serves as the administrative arm of the State Board of Education.
It implements state and federal education laws, disburses funds, and holds schools and districts accountable. The department is also tasked with licensing educators and providing public transparency of performance and financial data. Democratic incumbent Rhonda Solis is the only incumbent seeking reelection this year.
Solis said the lack of diversity pushed her to run for a second term, noting that there is still plenty of work to do. The District 8 candidate will face Republican challenger Yazmin Navarro, a newcomer to the political scene who said after working directly in classrooms as a paraprofessional, she wanted to make a difference on a higher level. In District 2, Democrat Kathy Gebhardt will likely be the new face representing District 2 in 2025.
Gebhardt, who has no Republican opponent in the general election, won the Democratic nomination in this year’s primary race. The education lawyer said she wants to carry her career expertise onto an elected board where she can make a difference. Currently, District 2 is represented by Angelika Schroeder, a Democrat who has served on the board since 2009.
In District 3, Democrat Ellen Angeles, an educator from a family of educators, is running against Sheri Wright. Angeles said she loves teaching, and when the opportunity presented itself to semi-retire and utilize her expertise and skills at the state level, she decided to take it. Wright, a rural school district teacher, wants to improve the state's education quality by using first-hand classroom experiences.
Currently, the District 3 seat is held by Stephen Varela, a Republican from Pueblo who has served since 2023. In District 4, Democrat Kristi Holtzmann is facing Republican Kristi Burton Brown. Holtzmann, who served on the local school board, said she believes public education “matters and can literally change lives,” and that she is running to protect students.
Brown said she is running because "education is an issue I am passionate about," adding that Colorado is a diverse state where students are not getting an opportunity to an equal education. She said school choice is important to allow children to succeed. The District 4 seat is currently held by Republican Debora Scheffel, who has served since 2018.
As the November election approaches, Colorado Politics sat down with the State Board of Education candidates to discuss public education funding and the issues and controversies affecting the state’s public education system. Colorado State Board of Education: Candidates on the cell phone debate in schools Colorado State Board of Education: Candidates on schools' struggles with disruptive students Colorado State Board of Education: Candidates discuss parental rights, student independence Colorado State Board of Education: Candidates agree state falls short in education funding, teacher pay.
