PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Barbara is a current member of the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education, providing her expertise in a team-based approach to improve the institutions of education so that they better serve communities, teachers, parents, and children.

As one of four governor appointees to President Bush’s Leave No Child Behind High School initiative, she helped foster a strong belief in small schools and the importance of implementing extensive changes to our current education system. Through this position, she has come to understand that children who enter kindergarten as “at risk” students maintain their “at risk” status through high school, and only 50% of them make it to graduation. In addition, through the Colorado Small Schools Conference, she learned that smaller schools foster at least a 90% graduation rate. This understanding encouraged Barbara to get in on the ground level to help see these changes actualized in Colorado schools.

She was elected to the board of directors of the Regional Transportation District in 2004. She was director of District F from 2004-2008, which includes Aurora and part of Centennial within Arapahoe County. During her tenure at RTD, Barbara chaired a number of committees that included: Contracted Operations Services and Access-a-Ride, American Public Transportation Association, RTD Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Planning and Development, Contracted Operations Services and the Pension Plan Trustee for Salaried Employees. She has served as a member of the Aurora City Council Transportation Committee and also served on the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee. Additionally, she has served two terms on the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education from 1997 - 2005.

Barbara advises CCS regarding state and district policies, and assists with the new school application review. 

EDUCATION

  • Post-Undergraduate Coursework in Education; Loretto Heights, Regis University; Denver, CO; 1992
  • M.A. Planning and Community Design; University of Colorado; Denver, CO; 1982
  • B.A. Education and Social Studies; Loretto Heights, Regis University; Denver, CO