Our Endorsed Candidates
Alex Magaña
Running for At-Large
Alex Magaña is a lifelong educator with 25 years of experience serving Denver students as a teacher, assistant principal and principal across Denver, where he raised his two children in Denver Public Schools. Magaña believes every student deserves a school where they feel safe, welcomed, and are set up to succeed. He will put students first, rebuild trust with the School Board, and lead with respect, collaboration, and transparency.
Alex Magaña is committed to improving the quality of education that students receive at Denver Public Schools by having great public schools in every neighborhood. He will make it a priority to increase graduation rates and ensure all schools meet the highest performance standards - so students graduate prepared for college and receive career technical training.
Alex Knows What Students and Teachers Need. As a teacher and principal, Alex Magana knows firsthand the struggles that teachers in our school district are facing when they must do a lot more with less. He is the only candidate who is prepared to face a future budgeting crisis because he knows what resources students and teachers need to be successful in the classroom.
Alex Magaña will take the Denver School Board in a new direction. He will bring a collaborative approach to the Denver School Board – to end personal infighting and dysfunction, and instead focus on real solutions that ensure that every child in every neighborhood has a quality public school.
Timiya Jackson
Running for District 4
Timiya Jackson is a DPS mom who brings over a decade of expertise in schools as Dean of Students and youth violence prevention. She has the experience to bring critical change to the School Board to keep students and teachers safe, improve student mental health resources, and prioritize increasing teacher pay, and providing a quality school in every neighborhood.
The current school board is holding closed door secret meetings making important decisions without public debate. Timiya Jackson will bring transparency and accountability to the school board and hold everyone on the board accountable for their actions through transparent meetings and open, public debate.
The current School Board is focused on themselves. They raised their own pay by 24 thousand dollars, while at the same time denying teachers a cost of living pay increase. Timiya Jackson will take a different approach. She will increase teacher pay to ensure teachers are respected and valued for the work they do to educate our children.
Timiya Jackson, a former Dean of Students and dropout re-engagement specialist, understands what students need to succeed and thrive. She will support every child by championing programs that prepare students for college and career, and ensuring strong reading and math foundations.
Caron Blanke
Running for District 3
Caron Blanke, a DPS mom committed to improving children's well-being, will bring critical change to the School Board. She will prioritize increasing teacher pay, reducing class sizes, keeping students and teachers safe, and providing a quality school in every neighborhood.
The current School Board is focused on themselves. They raised their own pay by 24 thousand dollars, while at the same time denying teachers a cost of living pay increase. Caron Blanke will take a different approach. She will increase teacher pay to ensure teachers are respected and valued for the work they do to educate our children.
Caron Blanke will make student and teacher safety her top priority. As the director of the JCC Early Learning School in Denver, Caron knows the trauma caused by lockdown drills and school violence. She will make sure that school resources officers remain in schools, take action to keep guns out of schools, and improve mental health support for students.
Mariana Del Hierro
Running for District 2
Mariana Del Hierro is a DPS mom and non-profit leader. She is committed to improving children's well-being, and will bring critical change to the School Board. She will prioritize increasing teacher pay, reducing class sizes, keeping students and teachers safe, and providing a quality school in every neighborhood.
As an experienced non-profit leader, Mariana will bring a collaborative approach to the Denver School Board – to end personal infighting and dysfunction, and instead focus on real solutions that ensure that every child in every neighborhood has a quality public school.
Mariana Del Hierro will keep ICE out of Denver schools and off of school grounds so that all students and families regardless of identity or immigration status feel safe and secure at Denver Public schools.
About Better Leaders, Stronger Schools
Founded in 2023, Better Leaders, Stronger Schools is an independent expenditure committee raising the standard of conversation in Denver Public Schools Board of Education elections.
We believe that excellent public education starts with outstanding leadership — and that’s why our core mission is to support candidates ready to champion the needs of high-quality public schools.
We Believe: Better Leaders = Stronger Schools
A strong public school system doesn’t happen by chance — it happens when committed, forward-thinking leaders drive positive change from within the organization.
By elevating electoral campaign information for individuals demonstrating integrity, expertise, and a deep dedication to student success, we ensure the Denver Public Schools Board of Education remains focused on what matters most: giving every child the opportunity, right, and ability to learn in an excellent public school.
Why It Matters: When we elect better leaders on the School Board, we empower teachers and equip students for lifelong achievement.
Paid for by Better Leaders Stronger Schools; Registered Agent: Daniel Aschkinasi; Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.