DPS Vote –
Unanimous YES for University Prep

July 1, 2010 by admin Uncategorized / 2 Comments

Dear Friends of University Prep,

On the wall of my office reads a simple set of phrases. “There are no shortcuts. There are no excuses. There is only hard work.” On Wednesday evening, June 30, at 5:00 pm, the Denver Public School’s Board of Education recognized the unrelenting hard work of University Prep’s founding team and voted with a unanimous YES (7 – 0) to approve our school. Watch a video of the meeting on our University Prep You Tube Channel. Their approval validates the 473 families who completed our intent to enroll forms demonstrating their desire for a new, high quality elementary school option in Northeast Denver – an option in which the road to college starts in kindergarten.

As we celebrate this joyous time in University Prep’s history we pause to thank those whose contributions have impacted our success to date, and will most certainly continue to do so as we move forward.

Building Excellent Schools, a nationally recognized non-profit that trained lead founder David Singer in the creation and implementation of a high performing urban charter school, has been an invaluable partner in the development of University Prep. On the national front, the Walton Family Foundation and the Daniels Fund have provided planning grants that have helped tremendously with the early stages of University Prep’s development. On the local landscape, a number of individuals, schools and organizations have been strong allies in our endeavor: West Denver Prep, Get Smart Schools, Project Voyce, the Colorado League of Charter Schools, and the DPS Office of School Reform and Innovation are just a few of the invaluable partners supporting University Prep (a full list of our incredible network of supporters is below). Three of the most successful and highly respected charter schools across the country also have been unbelievable in their constant willingness to open their doors to our lead founder and founding team – Excel Academy, Elm City College Prep, and North Star Academy Elementary. To so many others who have volunteered their time, demonstrated their support, or simply passed along a positive word of encouragement, thank you, thank you for believing in University Prep and the potential of each and every five-year-old in our city.

On the inner cover of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, given to me upon high school graduation, my parents inscribed these simple words: “Decide where you’re going and get there.” University Prep has decided where we are going. Today, and with charter authorization, we take the first big step in getting there.

Every child who attends University Prep will now have a school that is 100 % unyielding in its belief of where that child is going – COLLEGE. Our school, coupled with the families we serve, will deliver the message of Dr. Seuss – “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places. You’re off and away.”

In honor of Dr. Seuss, whose messages will certainly be shared with our prepsters as they develop their reading abilities at University Prep, we share a poem with you – a poem that speaks to the why behind our school and reminds you of our vision for a different future – a future of hope. We dedicate this poem to you, in thanks and in anticipation:

CHANGE THE GAME

Why do we continue to wait?
Until, for most of our children, it’s much much too late.

We have a choice to intervene or leave things to fate,
To engage in the work, or simply debate.

On August 8, 2011 a new school will begin,
Changing the future, ensuring a win.

University Prep doesn’t believe in the myths that exist,
Or the abysmal stats that sadly persist.

We are a school that beams with optimism for each student,
That treats each minute as the absolute most prudent.

The potential of a five-year-old will go as far as we take it,
We must build the foundation that allows them to make it.

At our college-prep school academic success is the rule,
The future we envision will act as the fuel.

Within our school’s walls we’ll deliver the highest education,
Served up by teachers with the utmost dedication.

There will be no cracks to slip in, no holes to fall through,
No excuses to use and no shortcuts, too.

There will be lots of hard work, coupled with banana-sized smiles,
As we climb the mountain to college, for miles and miles.

Don’t tell our school that children can’t learn,
Or poverty means that families don’t yearn -

For a better future, a better life,
One filled with joy, and far less strife.

Prepsters will walk through our doors in just over a year,
A new future awaits, families will cheer.

The DPS board has said YES to a game changing school,
One that will convert an exception into the rule.

Thank you Friends of University Prep for believing in what is possible. It is now time for us to get to work – and work we shall.

Today it’s official – COLLEGE STARTS IN KINDERGARTEN.

Thank you to the network of University Prep Supporters – we wouldn’t be here without you.
(In alphabetical order)

Achievement Prep – Shantelle D. Wright, Alex Sanchez, Alliance for Choice in Education – Sue Herrera, Alyssa Whitehead-Bust, Angela Reyes, Angie Rueda, Anne and Rachel Stern, Anthony Graves, A+ Denver – Laurie Zeller, Atlas Preparatory School – Zach McComsey, Ballpark Neighborhood Association – Tara Webber, Big City Mountaineers – Mitsu Iwasaki, Bill Browne, Bill Owens, Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck – Andrew Elliot, Bruce Randolph School – Ben Jackson, Cesar Cedillo and Greg Ahrnsbrak, Building Excellent Schools, Camila Lara, Capitol Collegiate – Penny Schwinn, Carlos Valverde, Carolyn Brug, Champa Housing – Elaine Phillips, Charles Elbot, Chris Clemons, Christina Ortiz, Christine Arguello, Circle of Latina Leadership, City Councilman Michael Hancock, City Councilwoman Carla Madison, Clayton Early Learning – Charlotte Brantley, Cole Arts and Science Academy – Jason Janz, Julie Murgel and Zachary Rahn, Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce – Eric Lee and Floyd Jones, Colorado Hispanic Bar Association – Damian Arguello, Colorado League of Charter Schools – Kathy Zlomke, Colorado Succeeds – Tim Taylor, Colorado Youth at Risk – Sarah McGill, Cross Community Coalition – Eric Wright and Vangie Maldonado, CU Boulder Science Discovery – Barbara Monday, Daliah Singer, Dean Prina, Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Jeff Campos, Denver Language School – Brian Weber, Denver Public Libraries – Anne Kemmerling, Denver Preschool Program – James Mejia, Denver School of Science and Technology – Bill Kurtz, Donnell Kay Foundation – Tony Lewis and the entire team, Doug Elliot, DPS Office of School Reform and Innovation – Carol Mehesy, Dream Big Day Camp – George Stein, Eagle Fund – Brewster Boyd, Early Excellence – Jennifer Rodriguez-Luke, Education Reform Now – Van Schoales, Elm City College Prep – Morgan Barth, Elyria Globeville Swansea Business Association – Larry Burgess, Excel Academy Charter School – Christopher Habetler, Katie Dankleff, Komal Bhasin, Rebecca Cass, Focus Points Family Resource Center – Cynthia Gallegos and Stuart Steers, GeoTech – Jeff Popiel, Get Smart Schools – Amy Slothower and Sari Levy, Gloria Schoch, Hayden Hirschfeld, Highline Academy – Gregg Gonzales, Hope Center – Geri Grimes, Ilyse Gyden, Invictus Prep – Cliff Thomas, James Perez-Foster, Jamie Samuels, Jen Heller, Josh Hanfling, Josh and Kate Mayer, Justin Fong, Kiddie Kollege – Stacy Allen, King Baptist Preschool – Veronica Luckett, KIPP Colorado – Rebecca Holmes, Krista Clarkson, Laurie Vargas, Leadership Denver – Denise King, Ledy Garcia-Eckstein, Linda Brown, Manny Lim, Manual High School – Rob Stein and the entire staff, Mario Giardiello and the entire family, Marti Awad, Mary Haynes, Metro Organization for People – Education Committee, Metro Volunteers – Anjulie Rao and Shannon Waid, Michael Baker, Mile High Montessori – Anna Jo Haynes, Ethel Marshall, Mindy Rodriguez and Pamela Harris, Mission Prep – Jane Henzerling, Monica Liley Skok, Myles Mendoza, Naomi Lopez, Neyeska Mut, North Star Academy Elementary – Julie Jackson, Pilgrim Congregational Church – Robert Quintana, Pat Henry, Prestige Academy – Jack Perry, Prodigal Son – Terrance Roberts, Project Voyce – Brian Barhaugh and the Student Leadership, Revolution Cleaners, Ricardo Flores Magon Academy – Marcos Martinez, Rosalie Singer, Salvation Army – Red Cross – Tabitha Graves, Ryan Berry, Scott Laband, Scott United Methodist – Aaron Black, Shorter A.M.E. Community Church – Timothy E. Tyler, Sage Hospitality – Zack Neumeyer, Social Venture Partners – Bob Overstreet and Lisa Fasolo Frishman, Stacie McClam, Stand for Children – Lindsay Neil, State Senator Michael Johnston, Stephanie Cross, Sue Walsh, TFA Colorado – Rachel Kelley and Sean VanBerschot, Think Thirty Three – Seth Singer, Urban Land Conservancy – Aaron Miripol and Josh Burdick, Urban League of Metropolitan Denver – Landri Taylor, Van Langley, Volunteers of America – Katie Hudak, Linda Jensen and Tanesha Bell , Walton Family Foundation – Cathy Lund, West Denver Prep – Chris Gibbons, Camille Howells and the entire team, Whittier Elementary – Jai Palmer, Youth Biz – Joy Knox, Yvette Pita-Frampton