Jeannie Kaplan honored by Denver School Board

Jeannie Kaplan honored by Denver School Board

On January 22, 2026, the Denver Board of Education honored former two-term board member Jeannie Kaplan with a proclamation dedicated to her selfless service to the Denver community. Gathered in the board room for this honor were her husband Steve, daughter Leslie, son Michael, their spouses and children, longtime friends and colleagues.

Prior to the board proclamation, former school board members Scott Baldermann and Dr. Carrie Olson, and former school board candidate Dr. Mike DeGuire read tributes in honor of Jeannie’s many accomplishments. Their themes centered on her undying commitment to the children of DPS and the decades-long fight she led against the corporate education reforms that had been implemented in the district.

The board proclamation included these acknowledgements of her lifelong advocacy for Denver students, teachers, and parents across the district:

“Jeanne Kaplan was a tireless champion for equity and civil rights in public education, fighting against policies that diverted resources from neighborhood public schools and opposing the expansion of charter schools that she believed undermined democratic governance and drained funding from the public system; and

She courageously spoke out against the influence of corporations, privatizers, and out-of-state billionaires in local school board elections, recognizing the profound harm such forces posed to community voice, transparency, and educational equity; and

Jeanne extended her advocacy beyond elected office through her writing, founding the blog Kaplan for Kids, where she documented school closures, charter expansion, and the destabilization of local communities, amplifying the voices of students, families, and educators impacted by market-driven education policies; and

Jeanne’s writings were widely respected and frequently featured on Diane Ravitch’s Network for Public Education blog and in local media, serving as a critical source of information and inspiration for grassroots organizers, including the group Our Denver Our Schools (ODOS), as they worked to reclaim DPS for families and neighborhood schools; and

Jeanne Kaplan’s leadership, warmth, and courage inspired countless individuals to engage in advocacy for public education, even in the face of powerful corporate interests and long odds. She firmly believed that DPS could and should be a great school system for all students and families, grounded in equity, community, and democratic values; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education of School District №1 in the City and County of Denver and the State of Colorado, on this date, January 22, 2026, that we honor and celebrate the life, service, and legacy of Jeanne Kaplan — a devoted parent, educator, advocate, public servant, and champion of neighborhood public schools — whose work has left an indelible mark on Denver Public Schools and whose vision continues to guide the ongoing fight for fully funded, equitable, and democratic public education for all.”

Jeannie was a dear friend and mentor to many in Denver, a champion for neighborhood schools, and an inspirational voice for preserving and protecting public education.

Click to watch the full ceremony at the DPS school board meeting: https://player.vimeo.com/video/1157378544?&rel=0, (49:00–1:27:00) and to read the full DPS proclamation and tributes from Jeannie’s colleagues: DPS Proclamation Scott Baldermann Dr. Mike DeGuire Dr. Carrie Olson