Say No to Colorado Leaders for Academic Success & School Boards For Academic Excellence

CLAS says they are an alternative to CASB

Colorado Leaders for Academic Success

Several Colorado School Boards have recently had several discussions regarding a new conservative Colorado education start-up called Colorado Leaders for Academic Success (CLAS). Mary Powell, an Elizabeth SD School Board Director, characterized CLAS as “a conservative version of CASB” during an Elizabeth School Board work session in August.

Overview of CLAS

CLAS is an 501(c)(3) non-profit education start-up hoping to serve as a conservative alternative to Colorado Association of School Boards. CLAS aims to partner with rural school boards & school board directors who have a more conservative viewpoint. CLAS plans to offer resources, policy, legislative updates, curriculum audits, and in-person & remote training sessions led by academic & policy experts nationwide.

Over the past few months, the Montezuma-Cortez School Board has had several discussions about CLAS, after the board discussions, MCSD school board did decide to join CLAS. In a November Board Meeting, MCSD Director Mike Lynch revealed that four district school boards have signed up in the inaugural year. The fee for the board was $3,000 & according to the conversation in the video below, Brad Miller seems to be involved. The school districts include, Montezuma-Cortez, Elizabeth, Delta, possibly Brush School Board and an additional un-known School Board.

Key Figures and Activities

Some of the key individuals associated with these groups include MCSD Director Mike Lynch and Elizabeth SD Director Mary Powell. The SBAE’s mission centers around building a national network of conservative school board members to support reforms in educational policies, while also hosting conferences and summits to unify efforts among like-minded members.

• Registered Agent & Executive Director is Cortney Salt, wife to District 20 Board Director Aaron Salt

• The filing agent is Attorney Brad Miller’s son, Joshua Miller, listed with Brad Miller’s home address. ( per Thompson School District Reform Watch )

• Brad Miller, Board Attorney for several Colorado School Boards

• Pam Benigno, Director of the Independence Institute’s Education Policy Center

• Dr. Debora Scheffel, Colorado State Board of Education Member, Dean and Professor, School of Education CCU. Dr. Scheffel is the State Board of Education member who supported Civics Alliance’s American Birthright Social Studies Standards

Related Organizations and Initiatives

Several organizations related to CLAS have been mentioned during school board meetings and are included on the Event announcement for the CLAS upcoming Summit on Feb. 6-7, 2024.

• The Independence Institute

• The Schuck Initiatives: currently supporting CLAS until CLAS grows membership & collects additional membership fees &/or finds additional funding

• Leadership Institute: provides training for conservative candidates including school board candidates

• Ready Colorado: gave CLAS legislative update, education organization that supports school choice including vouchers, ESA’s/Amendment 80

• Un-named Organization that completes curriculum audits for school board with CLAS membership. During a Montezuma-Cortez School Board meeting, Mike Lynch mentioned an un-named organization that provides curriculum audits for school boards with CLAS membership. There is reason to believe that the un-named organization MIGHT BE School Boards for Academic Excellence. SBAE provides members a Free Curriculum Review managed by education consultant and the founder of Vermilion Education, Jordan Adams.

  • Peter Greene/Curmudgucation: “His consultant website for Vermilion appears to have gone dark, but now SBAE is offering his curriculum consulting services to its members.
    Jordan Adams brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. With a background in curriculum development and educational consulting, Jordan has worked with school districts across the country to improve their curricula and enhance student learning outcomes. His approach is data-driven, evidence-based, and focused on achieving.
    Well, no. As far as I know, Adams was only hired at one district, started overhauling the curriculum, probably helped cost some right wingers their board election, and then had all his work rolled back.
    SBAE talks about its Network Partners a lot, but is very cagey about who and how many they are. Make of that what you will. But if any of your local board members are cozying up to these guys, prepare yourselves, because this is just more right wing culture panic Moms-for-Liberty-style ideological takeover trying to pass itself off as bi-partisan interest in student achievement.

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