2025 Pikes Peak Region
D38 – Lewis-Palmer D3
School Board Candidates
Candidates presented in Alphabetical Order
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Mobile-Friendly Version Candidate Listings
THE TOPICS
& QUESTIONS
click each box to read answer
Candidate Information
Campaign Website URL:
Email Address:
Occupation/Vocation:
Military Background (if any):
Resident of Colorado Springs:
Political Leanings
As a candidate in a nonpartisan School Board election, you are not officially associated with any specific political party. How would you describe your political leanings (socially, fiscally, etc.) and why do you define yourself in this way?
Your Experience and Vision
What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as School Board Member that will benefit your district? What is your vision to help ensure the highest quality education for your district’s students?
Improving Schools
What are the primary strengths and weaknesses of your district’s schools? What would you maintain or change?
Curriculum
What types of curricula, including library books and materials, if any, do you believe should be added or removed from your district’s schools? Why?
Financial Stewardship
Depending on the size of their district, School Board Members decide how to spend $10s of millions of dollars, or even $100s of millions, in taxpayer money each year. How would you seek to prioritize the funds being stewarded by your district’s School Board?
Technology
What do you believe is the proper balance of a student’s use of technology in education — such as cell phone use during school hours and incorporating artificial intelligence?
Parental Role
What do you consider to be a parent’s role in a child’s education? Do you believe that any information about a student should ever be withheld from a parent?
Sex Ed
Why do you support or oppose comprehensive sexuality education, including LGBT health and relationship information, in public schools K to 12? What are your positions regarding age appropriateness, curriculum transparency, and opt-in or -out policies?
Gender Issues
What are your views on gender issues in schools, including the use of preferred pronouns, discussing gender issues in the classroom, allowing students to use facilities and participate in sports activities not of their biological gender, and compliance with federal directives and law regarding gender issues?
School Safety
As a School Board member, what changes would you want to make, if any, to help ensure a safe and secure environment for both the students and staff of your district?
School Board Meetings
What do you consider to be the appropriate balance between the authority of School Boards and the rights of the public to present their views during School Board meetings?
GINGER SCHAAF
Candidate Information
Campaign Website URL: Facebook: Ginger Schaaf for D38
Email Address: SchaafD38@gmail.com
Occupation/Vocation: HVAC Sales
Military Background (if any): Retired Military Spouse
Resident of Pikes Peak Region & District: 2
Political Leanings
As a candidate in a nonpartisan School Board election, you are not officially associated with any specific political party. How would you describe your political leanings (socially, fiscally, etc.) and why do you define yourself in this way?
My views have changed throughout my life based on life experiences, raising a family, and building a career. I currently see myself as a moderate: I do not hold strong to either party in the current political climate.
Your Experience and Vision
What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as School Board Member that will benefit your district? What is your vision to help ensure the highest quality education for your district’s students?
I have had a professional career within the construction industry for nearly 25 years with a passion for encouraging the growth and development of other professionals within the industry. This has been accomplished thru my active roles within professional societies (ASHRAE), my children’s clubs/sports (Scouting America-formerly known as Boys Scouts of America), and support of school programs interested in the industry as well. The new D38 Career & Innovation Center is a great way to grow these programs and support our students. I am a Team player and will do what is needed to ensure that all of our students have the tools and programs necessary to be success in their lives.
Improving Schools
What are the primary strengths and weaknesses of your district’s schools? What would you maintain or change?
D38 has a proven track record as a top school district in Colorado. I plan to continue the great programming that my predecessors have built. If I see room for improvement, I will encourage such. Student participation numbers in State testing have fallen, I would like to find out more from the parents and educators administering these tests to know why, and what can be done to improve participation.
Curriculum
What are the primary strengths and weaknesses of your district’s schools? What would you maintain or change?
Our educators are continually learning thru local trainings and programs, as well as additional college credits. I seek their guidance, along with administrators, as to where our curriculum should be focused.
Financial Stewardship
Depending on the size of their district, School Board Members decide how to spend $10s of millions of dollars, or even $100s of millions, in taxpayer money each year. How would you seek to prioritize the funds being stewarded by your district’s School Board?
I intend to listen to the educators, parents, administration, and community of D38 and use these conversations and concerns to better shape my fiscal priorities. Ultimately, all of these discussions and budgets should be clear and fully disclosed to all of the stakeholders.
Technology
What do you believe is the proper balance of a student’s use of technology in education — such as cell phone use during school hours and incorporating artificial intelligence?
I do not believe that there is a place for cell phones in education during school hours. AI is an interesting and very powerful tool. I feel that there is no true way to avoid AI, but rather the students should be educated on how to properly use this tool and be aware of it’s pitfalls.
Parental Role
What do you consider to be a parent’s role in a child’s education? Do you believe that any information about a student should ever be withheld from a parent?
Engaged parents are a critical role to the success of students. I do believe that parents have the right to be informed of all activities involving their student. *Unless there is a safety concern regarding the Parent/Child relationship.
Sex Ed
Why do you support or oppose comprehensive sexuality education, including LGBT health and relationship information, in public schools K to 12? What are your positions regarding age appropriateness, curriculum transparency, and opt-in or -out policies?
Sexual education should be about educating the students about their bodies and feelings to ensure healthy relationships as they get older. I do support a comprehensive sexual education program, but I also strongly support teaching abstinence-only. The curriculum for each program should be very clearly outlined and communicated to the parents/caregivers with an ample amount of time for the family to review and choose as to whether their child should participate or not.
Gender Issues
Why do you support or oppose comprehensive sexuality education, including LGBT health and relationship information, in public schools K to 12? What are your positions regarding age appropriateness, curriculum transparency, and opt-in or -out policies?
Students should use the restroom or locker room of whichever gender they are assigned at birth. Athletes should only be allowed to compete with the gender that they are assigned at birth. There is clearly a physiological difference between boys and girls. I do not feel discussions of gender has a place in the classroom. If a student presents themself as one gender, but identifies as another, it is not the responsibility of the educator or school to address them as anything other than what is presented. All students need to feel safe, but I do not have the answer as to how to accommodate the minority without ensuring the safety of the majority
School Safety
As a School Board member, what changes would you want to make, if any, to help ensure a safe and secure environment for both the students and staff of your district?
Our school district has a strong security policy regarding the entrance of the school for both students and visitors. Additionally, the district has an active shooter plan that should also be continuously reviewed to ensure that everyone is remaining vigilant. However, I am concerned for the safety of our teachers within the school. More policy needs to be in place to ensure that our teachers can safely educate all of our students.
School Board Meetings
What do you consider to be the appropriate balance between the authority of School Boards and the rights of the public to present their views during School Board meetings?
Currently our district has a parent advisory committee and school advisory accountability committee. I feel there should be a stronger representation of these groups at our meetings. Strong family and community support will build strong schools.
JACKIE BURHANS
Candidate Information
Candidate did not confirm receipt of our Questionnaire, though we sought to contact her multiple times and by various methods. Therefore, we do not know if the Candidate is even aware of the opportunity to participate in the Voter Guide, or whether she is aware and chose not to participate.
Campaign Website: www.Facebook.com/people/Jackie4D38/61578635511767
Email Address: Jackie4D38@gmail.com
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