Dwight D. Jones Leads Colorado Education
The Former Teacher and Superintendent has a Vision for the Future
Oct 31, 2009
When the time came for Colorado's State Board of Education to appoint a new commissioner of education in 2007, it was unanimous: Dwight D. Jones was their man. Jones was a teacher and administrator before becoming the superintendent of a district known for narrowing and eliminating achievement gaps related to minority children and students of low-socioeconomic means.
Narrowing the Achievement Gap
Jones has continued to focus on achievement at the state level. How much of a concern is the achievement gap in Colorado?
"I am concerned about the achievement gap that exists between students of various ethnic backgrounds, between students of families with different socio-economic means and, yes, between students from America and those of other industrialized countries," says Commissioner Jones. "America has lost its competitive edge, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and this loss is to the detriment of both the students and our nation."
Recognizing an achievement gap is one thing, but Jones says that Colorado is doing something about it. "In six districts—urban, suburban, rural, small, large, ethnically diverse—we are in the second year of a three-year pilot, in which targeted interventions and proven methods are being implemented in order to close the "race" and "income" gaps. One of the goals is to determine what works under what conditions and at what cost."
Funding Education and Employee Benefits
Other areas besides STEM-education are of concern. "The way education is funded poses many problems," he says. "The "seat time vs. competency" debate continues about whether schools should receive per-pupil operating revenue (PPOR) based on student enrollment/attendance (seat time) or whether PPOR should be tied to student outcomes (competency). Teacher pay is a matter that needs to be addressed and remedied."
How much of an influence do health care costs have on education funding in Colorado? According to Commissioner Jones, "Quite a bit." He goes on to add, "Medicare program increases have by and large tapped out all other sources but education, and analysts believe education will be hit next. Ultimately this means fewer dollars will be allocated to education. Health insurance and related costs also affect education's bottom line in districts. Districts that have self-funded insurance policies are greatly impacted. Individual claims against the insurance pool equate to higher premiums, as does the escalating cost of health care services in general."
Preparing Students for Jobs that Don't Exist Yet
Like many other states, Colorado teachers strive to incorporate so-called 21st Century Skills into the classroom experience. Although not everyone agrees that 21st Century Skills should be a part of the curriculum, the commissioner is a strong supporter.
"Students have always needed to have critical thinking and decision-making skills. However, I believe these skills [21st Century] are even more important for today's students because of the world in which we live. The advent of the Internet, the instantaneous nature of the media and a multitude of technological tools allow for the continual availability and distribution of information of all kinds."
Jones says, "I believe it is vital that students be taught to evaluate both the nature of the information and the reliability of its source, to decipher fact from fiction. Only then will they truly expand their breadth and depth of knowledge and have a basis on which to for their own opinions."
Improving Education in Colorado
When it comes to the biggest needs of students, Jones comes back to the achievement gap. "I am a firm believer that all children—whether they live in a big house or a small apartment, in a city, a suburb or on a farm many miles from the next town—can learn, achieve and excel, and deserve every opportunity to do so," he says. "Accomplishing that will be a great improvement to education in Colorado."
Despite ongoing challenges in funding and achievement, Colorado has done well in some areas. Jones points to the evolution and improvement of Colorado's standards as a high point. "From their inception, Colorado's model content standards—what we believe students should know and be able to do—have been noteworthy," says Jones. He believes that ambitious standards are a critical component of a high-quality education.
According to Commissioner Jones, "The refinement and revision of the standards will make them more meaningful to both students and teachers. The governor's Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids and other legislation passed by the Colorado General Assembly in recent years are putting things in place to ensure that all students receive a high quality education."
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