Face the State

Jones Says "Choice happens whether you like it or not"
Face the State Staff Report

DENVER – Colorado's new education chief wants Democrats to embrace educational choice and the business community as part of a larger strategy for building the state's academic future.

Dwight Jones, who became the state's education commissioner in June, briefly outlined his vision Thursday before a group of about 50 Democrats gathered at Pete's Greektown Cafe.

Saying "choice happens whether you like it or not," Jones called on attendees to "get beyond that debate (over charter schools)."

Also part of his strategy, Jones stressed the need for more partnerships with corporations, who he says in turn, could provide scholarships for students committed to scholastic service. He will push for a reassessment of Colorado's mandatory student testing program, called the Colorado Student Assessment Program, and will work to develop a program that will reward young teachers with retirement accounts for teaching math and science in Denver schools.

Jones says he will recruit corporate backers to fund college scholarships for the top 100 seniors in Colorado. He said the program would pay students to attend state colleges, provided these academic high-achievers spend three to four years teaching math and science in Colorado schools following graduation.

“We need our best and brightest to get into teaching,” Jones said. “There are people in business and foundations that can buy into that investment. I am not going to the taxpayer to pay for this."

For now, Jones and his ideas are being well received, according to Randy DeHoff, a strong school choice supporter who has served on the Colorado Board of Education since 1998.

“I am impressed with him," DeHoff said. “He came in running. He had some clear ideas on what he wanted to do.”

DeHoff was pleased that Jones favors a strong review of state educational standards. He is also happy that the new commissioner has reached out to business leaders as agents of backing and change.

“Coalitions with business have been successful when business leaders bring the leverage and motivation needed to push through reforms,” DeHoff said. "Business coalitions have been successful when they bring the leverage and motivation to push through reforms.”

Jones, the son of black farmers, was raised in mostly white rural Kansas. Jones said he and his siblings watched over the family’s wheat fields to put out fires started by white farmers upset to have a black family in their midst. Eight of nine Jones children attended college, with the lone dissenter becoming a farmer.

While his parents were Democrats, Jones says he was named after the late President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican. “My dad said there are good Republicans too,” Jones said.

Prior to assuming his current position, Jones served as the superintendent of the Fountain-Fort Carson School District.