In 2022, thousands of us came together to demand justice when DPS wrongfully removed Principal Kurt Dennis.

Today, we are once again being ignored — and the stakes are even higher.

This Thursday (May 1, 2025), the Denver Public Schools Board of Education plans to extend Superintendent Alex Marrero’s contract, three years early, with almost no public input.

• His contract doesn’t expire until 2026.
• There’s no valid reason to rush this decision.
• There has been no transparent review of his performance.
• Our students, families, and teachers will be forced to live with the consequences for years.

Why does this matter?
Dr. Marrero’s leadership has overseen rising dysfunction and safety failures across DPS. Rather than listening to families, the Board is rushing to lock in failed leadership, putting politics ahead of our kids, classrooms, and teachers.

This is not just irresponsible. It is an outright betrayal of the public trust.

When Board members openly state that community input “is not necessary,” they are sending a clear message:
Our voices — and our children — do not matter to them.

We Must Act Now
We are calling for a full pause on this contract extension until:

• A public, transparent review of Dr. Marrero’s performance is shared with families.
• DPS demonstrates that student outcomes — especially for students of color — are improving.
• The community is given real time to review, discuss, and engage

No more backroom deals.
No more politics over students.
No more rubber-stamping failed leadership.

Take Action Now

1. Sign the petition demanding transparency before any contract extension: https://tinyurl.com/aznaxd3c 
2. Share this petition with every DPS family you know.
3. Sign up TONIGHT to speak at the Board of Education public comment session (cutoff is Today, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.).
   Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/4mu8wrzz
   Even if the maximum number of speakers for this topic is reached, you can still sign up under a different subject — but make it clear that "Alex (not-a-real-doctor)" Marrero has failed our students and families since day one.
4. Email the DPS Board and demand a full pause on this rushed vote. Here are their emails:
   Email the whole board at: board@dpsk12.org.
   Email D1 Director Kimberlee Sia at kimberlee_sia@dpsk12.org
   Email D2 Director Michalle Quattlebaum at michelle_quattlebaum@dpsk12.org
   Email D3 Director Carrie Olson at carrie_olson@dpsk12.org
   Email D4 Director Xochitl Gaytan at xochitl_gaytan@dpsk12.org
   Email D5 Director Marlene Dela Rosa at marlene_delarosa@dpsk12.org
   Email At Large Director John Youngquist at john_youngquist@dpsk12.org
   Email At Large Director Scott Esserman at Scott_Esserman1@dpsk12.org

Our children deserve safe, thriving schools, not rushed political deals behind closed doors.

Our families deserve to be heard, not silenced.

Let’s show them that the Denver community will not be ignored.

Stand with us. Act now.

Petition Organizer, 

Eve Chen

#OurStudentsFirst #TransparencyForDPS