DCP Endorses Tony Ryan

Over the past months, we’ve had the chance to get to know our amazing candidates, and we think they will be outstanding leaders for Douglas County Schools. We are sharing a few key Q&As that illustrate why we’re excited to support their candidacy and share their vision for our students, educators, and community.

DCP proudly endorses Tony Ryan because he is deeply rooted in Douglas County and committed to restoring excellence in our schools. As a DCSD alum, educator, and attorney, he brings legal expertise that is invaluable for navigating the complex laws impacting our district while keeping students at the center of every decision.

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Meet Tony Ryan, running for DCSD School Board Director, District D.

Tony Ryan, District D

"My teaching experience allows me to have some insight into what is needed to help educators and students thrive and my experience as an attorney makes it so that I can identify when board decisions need to be thoughtful in order to comply with state and federal law."

Why are you running for school board, and what values will guide your decisions?

I am running because I am a product of the Douglas County School District, having attended DCSD schools K-12. I want my son, Beckett, and every child in Douglas County to experience the same excellence in education that I received to best prepare him for the future. I am focused on making sure our district supports ALL students no matter their background, ability, or education journey.

How has your experience prepared you to serve students, educators, and families in Douglas County?

I worked as a performing arts teacher in both camp and charter-school classroom settings, so I have some firsthand experience with teaching. I am also a practicing attorney. My teaching experience allows me to have some insight into what is needed to help educators and students thrive and my experience as an attorney makes it so that I can identify when board decisions need to be thoughtful in order to comply with state and federal law. Compliance saves our district money by avoiding lawsuits and it allows the board to responsibly use taxpayer dollars to benefit students.

What are your top three budget priorities, and how will you balance them given limited state funding?

My top three budget priorities are keeping extracurricular activities available to DCSD students, making sure that decisions comport with the law to avoid costly lawsuits and settlements, and closely scrutinizing the use of outside consultant firms in making board decisions. My hope is that funds that are now diverted to litigating and settling lawsuits and paying for consultants who do not give our district new information, that we can have a larger budget available to our schools. Those larger budgets should allow principals to pay staff more competitively and ensure that each of their schools have a wide variety of options in the arts, athletics, and club programming available to their students.

In Colorado’s school choice system — with open enrollment, district and CSI charters, private options, and vouchers — what is the role of a Douglas County School Board director, and how should these choices impact DCSD students, teachers, and resources?

Board directors need to make sure there is a continued variety of options available to all parents when choosing which district schools to send their children. I do not believe that board directors should be getting involved with private schools in any capacity given the fact that they are in charge of public funds. Public funds should go to schools available to all families regardless of their ability to pay for tuition whether a neighborhood school or a charter school. By making sure that taxpayer dollars stay in public schooling, I am hopeful that my decisions will lead to more competitive pay for teachers and more program availability to students.

How will you ensure that all voices in the community — especially students, parents, and teachers — are heard in decision making?

I believe that a representative has a duty to bring concerns from anyone in their constituency to the Board's attention. As stakeholders raise issues they see in the district, I would make it a priority to make sure those voices are heard regardless of my own personal feelings on the matter. Students' voices should play a larger role in setting board priorities than they do currently. All board decisions need to be for the betterment of the students, and their own wants and needs should be paramount in making those decisions.

How will you support teachers and staff so they can focus on educating students?

I would make sure that teachers and staff have the ability to raise their concerns with the board and that the board actively takes steps to address those concerns. Supplying educators with the tools necessary to allow them to focus on educating our children is exactly how all board directors should be spending a majority of taxpayer funds. That includes making sure that educators have the supplies and planning time necessary to fully educate the students in our district.

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You can learn more about Tony Ryan, including upcoming events at https://www.tonyryan4dcsd.com/