2025 BoE Candidate Information and Forums
Englewood Schools has Three Four-Year Term Director Seats Open
As required by Colorado Statute C.R.S. § 22-31-107(2.5), the District has provided the required contact information for each candidate, organized in alphabetical order by surname. Please find the required information by clicking on each candidate's name.
- Candidate Profile: Erica Elvove
- Candidate Profile: Steven Leflar
- Candidate Profile: Tiffany Kapler
- Candidate Profile: Janée McConnell
- Candidate Profile: Anna Whistler
Candidate Profile: Erica Elvove
Englewood, CO 80110
ericaelvove@gmail.com
About Erica Elvove
Please share a bit about yourself (background, work, family).
I’ve been proud to call Englewood home for nearly 20 years. My partner and I raised our two children here, and they’ve been Englewood Schools students since kindergarten at Clayton Elementary. Today, they are thriving at Englewood Middle and High School.
My career has always been rooted in service and community development. I began as a Peace Corps volunteer, then as a social worker for many years in nonprofit and academic leadership, and now work in both nature conservation and real estate. Across these roles, I’ve managed large teams and budgets, built programs from the ground up, and focused on equity, collaboration, and lasting impact.
For more than a decade, I’ve also been deeply engaged in Englewood Schools — serving on the Clayton Elementary PTO, the School and District Accountability Committees, and now as a Band Boosters volunteer. These experiences have strengthened my belief that our schools are the foundation of our community — and when they thrive, our whole city thrives.
For me, running for the Englewood Schools Board of Education is about service and intention. I’ve always believed in stepping up where I can make a difference — whether supporting community-based conservation, building inclusive nonprofit teams, helping people find homes through value-driven real estate, or showing up consistently for Englewood’s schools and children.
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
Now is the right time to take the next step. I’ve intentionally shaped my career to make space for community service. With two kids currently in middle and high school, I’m personally invested in strengthening the secondary school experience so every family feels confident across our full, pre-K to 12 system. When my family committed to Englewood Schools back in 2015, I promised myself I would be an active contributor. Running for the school board is the natural extension of that promise.
I’m running to ensure Englewood Schools remains inclusive, forward-thinking, and community-centered. I want to support our teachers, give every child a fair shot to succeed, and deepen the trust between our schools, our neighbors, and the families who will join us in the years ahead.
What makes you a good candidate for the Englewood Board of Education?
I bring a unique blend of professional leadership and personal investment. As a senior leader in nonprofit and academic organizations, I’ve overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, managed diverse teams, and built equity-driven programs that create lasting impact. As a real estate advisor, I understand how schools influence the health and growth of our neighborhoods. And as a parent and longtime volunteer, I’ve lived the day-to-day realities of Englewood Schools alongside our families, teachers, and staff.
I believe in freedom through opportunity, mindfulness in decision-making, abundance in how we imagine our students’ futures, leadership that is collaborative, and intentional community-building. These values guide everything I do.
Most importantly, I know how to listen, to build bridges, and to work as part of a team. School board service isn’t about one person having the answers — it’s about collective leadership, and that’s the kind of service I’m ready to bring.
What are your hopes/goals for Englewood Schools? How do you plan to achieve them if you are elected?
My campaign is built around three pillars:
1) Strong Schools, Strong Community – I want every Englewood family to feel proud and confident in choosing our schools from early childhood through high school graduation. That means maintaining safe, welcoming environments and investing in programs that help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
2) Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion for All Students – Equity means removing barriers and making sure every child has what they need to thrive, no matter their background or circumstance. I’ll push for data-driven decisions, inclusive programming, and transparent communication to build both trust and results.
3) Support Teachers and Staff – Teachers and staff are at the heart of student success. We need to listen to them, support them with resources and manageable workloads, and recognize them as partners in decision-making. I’ll advocate for creative solutions — from housing programs to professional development — that help us attract and retain great educators.
I’ll measure progress not only by data like teacher retention and student engagement, but also by the stories we hear from families, staff, and students themselves. If Englewood continues to be a place where students feel safe, supported, and challenged — and where families choose to stay and invest — then I’ll consider that success.
Candidate Profile: Steven Leflar
Englewood, CO 80113
sjleflar@gmail.com
About Steven Leflar
Please share a bit about yourself.
I’ve dedicated nearly 19 years of my life to service in the Colorado Army National Guard, where I worked my way through leadership roles from Crew Chief to First Sergeant. During that time, I deployed multiple times, including to Iraq in 2021, and had the honor of serving alongside some of the finest people I’ve ever known. Beyond my military career, I hold a B.A. in Business Leadership and run a small business here in Englewood.
At home, I’ve been married to my wife for 22 years, and together we are raising four boys in a proud, neurodiverse family. Life in our house is full of energy, laughter, and a fair amount of sarcastic humor—I believe in taking my work seriously, but not taking myself too seriously. Those experiences as a parent, veteran, business owner, and fun-loving community member have shaped me into someone who values accountability, integrity, and connection, and they drive my passion for supporting Englewood’s students and families.
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
I’m running because our children deserve strong advocates who put students first. With my proven service record on the Englewood School Board (2018–2022), I’ve already helped guide the district through some of its most challenging moments. Now, I want to continue that work and build on our progress.
What makes you a good candidate for the Englewood Board of Education?
I am a strong candidate for the Englewood Board of Education because I bring proven experience, leadership, and a deep commitment to our community. From 2018 to 2022, I served as a board director, where I helped advance the OAI Proclamation, establish legislative priorities, and shape the district’s strategic plan, while also guiding Englewood through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even while deployed to Iraq in 2021, I remained engaged and faithful to my responsibilities as a board member. My nearly 19 years of service in the Colorado Army National Guard, including leadership roles up to First Sergeant, taught me discipline, resilience, and the ability to make tough decisions under pressure. I also hold a B.A. in Business Leadership and run a small business here in Englewood, giving me practical experience in accountability, budgeting, and strategic planning.
Most importantly, as a husband of 22 years and father of four boys in a neurodiverse family, I understand firsthand the importance of meeting students where they are and ensuring families feel supported as partners in education. These combined experiences—military, business, family, and prior board service—make me uniquely prepared to serve Englewood Schools with integrity and a student-first mindset.
What are your hopes/goals for Englewood Schools? How do you plan to achieve them if you are elected?
My hope is for Englewood Schools to be a place where every child feels valued, supported, and prepared for their future. I want our schools to provide strong academic foundations, while also nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and life skills. My goal is to ensure that every student—regardless of background or ability—has the opportunity to succeed.
If elected, I will:
Prioritize student success by strengthening academic programs, supporting special education and neurodiverse learners, and expanding access to arts, trades, and innovative opportunities.
Champion accountability and transparency so families and community members know how resources are being used and can trust that decisions are student-focused.
Support safe and welcoming schools by advocating for strong mental health resources, inclusive policies, and strong school-community partnerships.
Bring proven leadership from my prior service on the Englewood School Board, where I helped shape the strategic plan, advance legislative priorities, and guide the district through COVID—even while deployed to Iraq.
My approach is grounded in collaboration, listening, and data-driven decisions that always put students first.
Candidate Profile: Tiffany Kapler
About Tiffany Kapler
Please share a bit about yourself (background, work, family).
I am a 19-year resident of Englewood, where I live with my husband and our two daughters—all three of whom have attended Englewood Schools. Professionally, I work in science education and have run a consulting business for the past 10 years, providing education outreach and program development for clients including museums, zoos, and even a space mission—to name a few. In my free time, I enjoy watercolor painting, rock climbing, and tending to my flock of backyard chickens.
I believe strongly in Englewood Schools and the value of our small, community-driven district. As someone who moved to Englewood as an adult, I was initially surprised, then deeply impressed, to discover how many residents grew up here and chose to stay—sending their own children to the same schools where they once learned. There is something truly special about Englewood, and I am proud to be part of this community.
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
I believe service is an essential part of being an engaged citizen and one of the most meaningful ways I can contribute to my community. What that service looks like varies for each person. For me, it has meant serving a global community as a Peace Corps environmental education volunteer and, closer to home, serving as a Girl Scout leader for the past seven years.
Within our district, I have been an active member of School Accountability Committees for Maddox ECE, Charles Hay World School, Englewood Leadership Academy, and—beginning last month—Englewood High School. Since 2018, I have served on the District Accountability Committee and as co-chair for the past three years. These roles have been challenging in different ways but always immensely satisfying, because I can see the positive impact of my efforts on our community, especially on our children.
The School Board represents a new opportunity for me to serve the Englewood community in a role for which I have the skills, knowledge, and passion necessary to make a positive difference for our students, families, teachers, and leaders. If elected, I would be excited to tackle current challenges collaboratively and creatively while lifting up and leveraging our schools' existing successes and strengths. Just as in my work on school and district accountability committees, my guiding star would always be our students and their success in every decision and action I take as a School Board member.
What makes you a good candidate for the Englewood Board of Education?
As a long-time member and leader of the District Accountability Committee and School Accountability Committees, I have gained valuable insight into both the strengths and challenges of our district, and I have had the opportunity to collaborate with staff to brainstorm solutions. As a parent, I am experienced in advocating for students—my own and all students in our community. As an education professional, I bring an understanding of education standards combined with a creative mindset that focuses on community assets and opportunities to develop innovative solutions. Throughout my career, I have worked on projects and partnerships that required building relationships with diverse stakeholder groups and navigating competing priorities—skill sets that will be essential as a School Board member.
My unique combination of extensive district knowledge, parent perspective, professional expertise, and collaborative approach makes me well-equipped to serve effectively on the Englewood School Board. I am committed to building on our successes while thoughtfully addressing our challenges with both optimism and practical experience.
What are your hopes/goals for Englewood Schools? How do you plan to achieve them if you are elected?
My greatest hope for our district is that every student has the tools and guidance needed to be an engaged learner and graduates with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to find success as adults—whether in careers, further education, or civic engagement. Ideally, I would love to see Englewood Schools become a destination district and model for those in surrounding areas. The district's Strategic Plan 2023-2028 provides an excellent foundation for achieving these goals.
As a School Board member, I will work to ensure that school and district reporting aligns directly with our strategic plan, tracking both quantitative and qualitative results. Englewood Schools has a strong commitment to opportunity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a tradition of leveraging community partnerships. I would continue to support and expand these values and opportunities.
Our education system works best when all stakeholders are welcomed and engaged in the process—from providing input to participating in decision-making and problem-solving. I will champion the diverse voices of our community—students, teachers, families, and neighbors—to continue building best practices and expanding student access and success.
I am committed to complete transparency in the operations of the district, schools, and school board to foster a community built on trust, shared values, and common priorities. Together, we can ensure that Englewood Schools continues to be a place where every student belongs, thrives, and succeeds.Candidate Profile: Janée McConnell
About Janée McConnell
Please share a bit about yourself (background, work, family).
I'm a 5th generation Colorado native, and a 16-year Englewood resident with three amazing children who all attended Englewood schools from elementary through high school graduation. I spent 20 years in early childhood education, working my way from teaching assistant to executive director at a cooperative preschool, where I gained experience in both governance and educational leadership.
Currently, I work as Director of Community Operations for a professional development company. I also run a small micro-bakery out of my home here, and I love hosting dinner parties and working in my garden!
My family's journey through Englewood schools has been an awesome one with lots of different experiences that showed what this district, it's teachers, school professionals, and our community are all capable of. Without a doubt, these experiences taught our family how excellent educators can transform outcomes when they're properly supported and trusted to do their work.
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
After watching all three of our children thrive in Englewood schools - in stark contrast to our earlier experiences in a much larger district - I want to give back to the community that served our family SO well. I've seen firsthand the difference that supportive leadership makes for both students and teachers.
I'm also a passionate advocate for public education in general. Public schools are the cornerstone of our democracy and need strong support, so I want to do what I can to be a part of that.
As someone with both education experience and deep roots in this community, I understand what teachers need to do their best work and what families need to feel their children are truly seen and supported. I want to help ensure Englewood continues creating that culture of excellence and belonging for every student, educator, and family.
What makes you a good candidate for the Englewood Board of Education?
What makes me a strong candidate for a position on this board, is that my unique combination of education experience, governance background, and lived experience as an Englewood parent gives me perspective on multiple sides of public education. I understand classroom realities, budget constraints, family dynamics, and community needs.
My current work has strengthened my ability to facilitate collaboration, manage complex projects, help teams work through challenges effectively, and bring innovation and creativity to problem-solving - all essential skills for productive board governance. This experience, combined with my cooperative preschool background, has taught me how to navigate diverse viewpoints, build consensus, and make decisions that serve everyone's children, not just the loudest voices in the room.
Most importantly, I'm here to do the work - supporting teachers, serving students, and helping our district thrive. I stay focused on what actually makes a difference, and I won't get pulled into debates that don't serve that purpose.
What are your hopes/goals for Englewood Schools? How do you plan to achieve them if you are elected?
My primary goal is supporting our strategic plan's commitment and "Golden Thread" of opportunity, access, and inclusion for every student and staff member. This means ensuring teachers have the resources and support they need, while helping our community recognize the incredible value of our small but mighty district.
I want to address the enrollment challenges by showcasing what makes Englewood special - our ability to know students as individuals, build real family relationships, and see direct impact in ways larger districts can't match. When families understand this advantage, they're more likely to choose and stay with Englewood schools.
I plan to achieve these goals through genuine engagement - starting with understanding what teachers, students, and families actually need rather than assuming I know. Good governance means asking the right questions, supporting professional expertise, and focusing on what truly serves children's education and wellbeing.
Candidate Profile: Anna Whistler
About Anna Whistler
Please share a bit about yourself
(background, work, family).
I have been an educator for 20 years. After earning my B.A. in Elementary Education and my M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, I began my career teaching third grade in Tempe, Arizona. In 2011, I moved to Colorado and found my home here in Englewood. In 2021, I completed the Principal Licensure program at the University of Denver to develop my skills for leading change at the school level. I am currently an Assistant Principal in Denver Public Schools. I am a proud parent of an Englewood fourth grade student who has been learning and growing in our schools since kindergarten. I was appointed to the Board of Education in January 2024 and serve as the Treasurer
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
I want to serve on the Englewood Schools Board of Education because, as a veteran educator, I deeply understand the importance of excellent instruction and equity for our students. As a parent of an Englewood fourth grader, I witness daily the positive impact teachers and a strong school community have on our children. On the Board, I would be a strong advocate for our teachers and a voice for the community, fostering authentic collaboration. Serving on the board has already made me a better parent, school leader, and Englewood community member. The work I’ve done so far has been meaningful, and I am eager to continue making an impact in the future.
What makes you a good candidate for the Englewood Board of Education?
I am a strong candidate for the Englewood Board of Education because I bring 20 years of hands-on experience as an educator and school leader, combined with the perspective of a dedicated Englewood parent. I understand the challenges and opportunities our students and teachers face daily. My background in curriculum, instruction, and equity equips me to advocate effectively for all students. I am committed to listening to and collaborating with families, staff, and community members to make decisions that foster inclusive, high-quality education. My passion for Englewood Schools and dedication to serving this community has been demonstrated through my time on the board.
What are your hopes/goals for Englewood Schools? How do you plan to achieve them if you are elected?
Since our community has emerged from the challenges of the pandemic, Englewood Schools have made strides improving academic outcomes. As a board member, it is important that we both support our district leadership in continuing this progress while also holding them accountable to measurable outcomes. I would accomplish this through our process of setting clear goals that aligned with the district’s strategic plan and values. Of course, we must also look beyond test scores by listening to teachers, students, and family members to understand where we need to improve. As a current board member, I also understand the financial risks that we face due to enrollment and funding from the state and federal government. As a board member, I would ensure that we address these challenges by developing sustainable budgets that provide what our students need.
Board Member Duties & Characteristics
Characteristics of a Board Member:
- desire to serve children and the community, and a strong belief in the value of the public schools
- ability to work as a member of a team, including an open mind and ability to engage in give-and-take
- willingness to spend the time required to become informed and to do the homework needed to take part in effective school board governance
- respect for the needs and feelings of other people, a well-developed sense of fair play and the ability to listen and communicate well
- recognition that the school district may be the largest business in town and that the board is responsible for ensuring that business is well managed
Board Candidate Qualifications
To be qualified to run for the Board of Education, a candidate must:
- Be a registered voter in the school district for at least 12 consecutive months before the election (November 2025)
- Not have been convicted of committing a sexual offense against a child
- Because school director elections are nonpartisan, candidates may not campaign as members of a political party.
IMPORTANT DATES
Candidate forums are open to the public and are an opportunity for students, families and community members to get to know the candidates.
October 5 from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. at Belleview Park Pavilion 1 (5001 S Inca Drive): Meet the Candidates Event. *This is not a Englewood Schools sponsored event.
October 23 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. at Englewood High School (3800 S Logan St): EHS Journalism Students Host Candidate Forum. Watch the recording of the forum here:
www.thepirateer.com