About Me

My name is Mary Parker and I currently serve as President of the Jeffco School Board.  I have lived in Jeffco for 20 years.  I have 2 daughters who are Jeffco teachers, and 4 granddaughters who are attending or have graduated from Jeffco schools.

My husband and I own an HR Consulting business specializing in Compensation and Compliance. Previously, I worked as a Systems Engineer for Hewlett-Packard where I taught a variety of computer courses and supported HP’s accounting software.

For the past 18 years, I have been a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for neglected and abused children in Jefferson County. I have also taught parenting classes and I was co-founder of Columbine Moms Demand Action.

I am running for re-election because I want to continue the good work the district is doing.  Over the past 4 years we have:

  •  Increased average staff compensation by more than 30%.
  •  Standardized ELA and math curricula and provided instructional resources to our schools.
  • Seen improvements in achievement scores that are higher than they were pre-pandemic.
  • Changed start and end times for our schools to better align with research on the adolescent brain and to equalize the length of the school day across the district.
  • Offered free gun locks at district high schools and ensured that parents enrolling their children are aware of Colorado’s safe gun storage law.
  • Created a Jeffco Student Leadership Board.
  • Worked with Jeffco students to develop a new Sustainability Board End.
  • Developed data dashboards to help principals and teachers track student achievement and identify areas of success and concern.
  • Defined a High School Reimagined plan to better prepare students for life after graduation.
  • Put in place a comprehensive plan to screen students for dyslexia.

We also did some very hard things, like closing 21 schools where enrollment was so low that the students were not getting the educational experience their peers were getting at other, better resourced schools.

This declining enrollment has been going on since 2001, but the issue was essentially kicked down the road year after year.  One reason for this is that we had 6 different superintendents in 7 years.  Add to that the fact that it is the nature of school boards that there is a new board composition every 2 years.  Some years, like this year, there is the potential that the board majority will be made up of all new members who will face a steep learning curve before they are able to understand enough about how the district is run to make good, informed decisions.

Jeffco’s Vision statement is to “be a thriving district where all students achieve their biggest dreams”.  I was part of the team that created that vision.  I believe in it and I am committed to fostering a collaborative environment where every student is empowered to reach their highest potential.  I believe that by working together – families, educators, and community members – we can ensure that our schools are well-resourced, our teachers and support staff are well-compensated and empowered, and our schools are welcoming and innovative spaces for learning.

If given the opportunity to continue my service on the Jeffco School Board, I will listen to your concerns, champion transparency, and advocate for policies that put our students first.