Magee: How Tom Boasberg Reimagined Schools — and His Denver District — and Laid the Foundation for More Progress to Come
It is rare for urban superintendents to remain in the same district for nearly ten years. Even more uncommon is their ability to bring about significant changes, like Tom Boasberg has done in Denver Public Schools. Tom has emerged as a national leader, demonstrating what the future of large school systems could look like. His impressive tenure in Denver has earned him admiration as one of the country’s most respected superintendents.
As a member of the Chiefs for Change board, Tom has championed a vision of providing equitable access to quality schools, setting an example that all chiefs can learn from. His innate ability to connect every decision, regardless of its magnitude, to the well-being of students and social justice reflects his true values. Not only does he leave behind an impressive legacy, but he also leaves an organization in Denver that is filled with talented individuals and leaders who are dedicated to achieving equity and excellence. Given these reasons, among others, it is important to reflect upon his accomplishments following his recent announcement of stepping down in October.
Tom’s record of achievements, as highlighted by local advocacy group A+ Colorado, is remarkable. He has demonstrated bold and innovative leadership, which is crucial for driving change in our cities. Particularly noteworthy is Tom’s efforts to reimagine the traditional model of education, where teachers work independently and can only seek leadership roles by leaving the classroom. He introduced the largest and most extensive teacher leadership program in the country. This year alone, more than 500 Denver teachers, representing one-tenth of the district’s total number, are serving as teacher leaders. They spend half of their day teaching in their classrooms and the other half as team leads, providing coaching and support to their colleagues while leading collaborative work. Denver’s model has provided excellent opportunities for experienced teachers to lead and has enhanced the frequency of coaching and feedback for teachers on their teams.
Similarly, at the system level, Tom has reimagined how district-run and charter schools can collaborate and learn from each other to create greater opportunities for students. As he recently emphasized at the National Charter Schools Conference, his fundamental belief is that "we are one school district." Denver has successfully put an end to the conflict that historically plagued district-charter relations by establishing shared systems for funding, special education, enrollment, transportation, and accountability. This has resulted in significant benefits for Denver families and has contributed to the substantial enrollment growth experienced by the district.
Tom’s commitment to his role is evident in the recognition he recently received as the Hispanic-Serving School District Superintendent of the Year from the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. A glance at the district’s progress during his tenure easily demonstrates why he earned this accolade:
– The number of students graduating from Denver Public Schools has increased by over 70 percent. This increase is even more remarkable for Latino and African-American students, where the graduation rate has doubled.
– The number of district students enrolling in college has risen by 89 percent. Again, for African-American and Latino graduates, this number has doubled.
– The number of students earning college credit through Advanced Placement exams has increased fivefold, with Latino and African-American students experiencing an almost 800 percent increase.
– Despite the declining enrollment faced by many urban districts, Denver has become the fastest-growing urban school district in the nation.
– Denver students are outperforming their counterparts across Colorado in terms of academic growth rates.
– Dropout rates have decreased, resulting in over 2,000 more students staying in Denver Public Schools each year.
The success story in Denver extends beyond improved student outcomes. In a time of increasing polarization in education, Tom managed to strike a delicate balance between implementing high-level policy changes and fostering alliances. Refusing to succumb to divisive educational politics, he sought partnerships with all stakeholders and empowered teachers, principals, students, and families, creating a collective effort that led to sustainable academic gains, independent of any single individual.
Tom acknowledges that there is still work to be done in Denver. Throughout his leadership, he has demonstrated a keen understanding of the urgent needs of the present while keeping an eye on the future. Denver is undoubtedly a better place today because of him, and with a strong foundation to build upon, Denver Public Schools is poised for another decade of significant progress.
Mike Magee is the CEO of Chiefs for Change, a coalition of state education chiefs and district superintendents dedicated to achieving excellence and equity for all students.
Your assignment is to paraphrase the given text by utilizing a broader range of vocabulary and crafting original sentences using natural language. The revised version should remain in English. Here is the original text to be rewritten:
"Global warming is the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature caused by human activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions. The main greenhouse gases responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases act like a blanket, preventing heat from escaping into space and thus causing the planet to warm up. The consequences of global warming include rising sea levels, extreme weather events such as hurricanes and heatwaves, melting glaciers, and the potential extinction of various species. It is crucial that we take immediate action to mitigate the effects of global warming and transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources."
Revised Version:
"Global climate change refers to the sustained escalation of Earth’s mean surface temperature as a result of human activities, predominantly the emission of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are the primary greenhouse gases responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere. These gases function akin to an insulating layer, hindering the dissipation of heat into space and consequently leading to planetary warming. The repercussions of global climate change encompass elevated ocean levels, the occurrence of severe weather phenomena such as hurricanes and heatwaves, glacial melting, and the potential endangerment of various species. Urgent measures must be undertaken to effectively mitigate the impacts of global climate change and facilitate the transition towards cleaner, renewable energy sources."
