Sondra is a former DPS educator who works as a community educator in the Denver metro area. Her experience in education has shaped her view of youth as bold visionaries with invaluable ideas, and she firmly believes in their potential to shape our future.
Driven by the belief that positive social change begins in our classrooms, Sondra’s advocacy is centered on amplifying student and family voices. She envisions a public school system where students and families play integral roles in decisions that affect them. She believes in a system that is inclusive, inspiring and prioritizes diverse, student-centered learning environments that nurture the whole child.
Interview:
I belong to a nonprofit organization serving girls and gender-expansive youth from kindergarten through college. This role has profoundly shifted my perspective on the possibilities of public education. Our organization supports girls and gender-expansive youth through mentoring, advocacy and research-based programs to overcome barriers and achieve independence and success. Recent national data collected across 11,400 participants in 2023 shows that 90% of our youth feel safe, 89% feel heard, and 91% believe adults support their success (Girls Inc, 2024).
In previous K-8 roles, I have witnessed the challenges students face due to a lack of supportive frameworks. My current experience demonstrates that with targeted support, students thrive. This underscores the potential for public education to adopt similar approaches – particularly for girls, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ communities and students with exceptionalities – to create safer and more inclusive learning environments where students feel represented, heard and valued as contributing members of our society. Implementing these strategies in public schools would significantly improve student well-being and outcomes.
As Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” In today’s increasingly divided world, education can stand as a transformative force. Accessible, high-quality public education has the potential to bridge divides, cultivate understanding and empower individuals with knowledge, critical thinking and empathy. It fuels personal growth, drives socioeconomic progress and fosters inclusive communities. Prioritizing universal access to high-quality public education is not just a goal but a catalyst for positive social change and unity.
I chose to work with Denver Families for Public Schools because their mission of amplifying community voices in decisions affecting children deeply aligns with my values as an educator and parent. Before discovering Denver Families, I was uncertain about where to start my advocacy journey beyond the classroom, but they have provided me with a supportive community and invaluable opportunities to engage with local education issues through programs like LEARN, LEAD 101 and Advocacy Ambassadors.
My favorite part of being involved with Denver Families is witnessing how community voices drive positive change in education. Through canvassing efforts, policy discussions and advocating for equitable resources, Denver Families has empowered me to promote educational equity and strengthened my belief in community-driven initiatives to shape a brighter future for our youth.