Tom Griggs

Party Affiliation:
Non-Partisan
Campaign Website:
Education:
Ph.D. Teacher Education - Ontario Institute for Studies of Education of the University of Toronto, 1994-1996
M.A. Teaching English as a Second Language - UCLA
M.A. Secondary Teaching English and Social Studies with Bilingual Crosscultural Language & Academic Development (BCLAD) certification - UCLA
Policy Positions
School Closures & Consolidation: Decisions about school closures must be transparent, data-informed, and community-driven—not rushed or based solely on flawed forecasts. PSD should prioritize public trust and engagement before considering drastic changes.
Mill Levy Funding: PSD has a long history of public support through mill levies, and that trust demands accountability and meaningful public involvement in how funds are spent.
Whole Child, Schools & Community: Education must nurture the whole child—academically, emotionally, and socially—rather than relying solely on test scores to justify closures or rankings.
Leadership: Effective board leadership requires time, commitment, and deep understanding of the district’s challenges; I’m ready to serve with compassion, experience, and resolve.
Professional Development: Teachers deserve ongoing, personalized professional development that supports their growth, reduces burnout, and equips them to meet diverse student needs.
Charter Schools: Charter schools must be held to the same accountability standards as traditional public schools to ensure fairness and responsible use of public funds.
Policy Governance: PSD’s governance model should evolve to better reflect community needs and allow for more responsive, collaborative leadership beyond supervising the superintendent.
Special Needs Kids & Their Families: Every school must be equipped to support students with special needs, including early dyslexia screening and access to qualified professionals, so families aren’t forced to seek help elsewhere.
Community Partnerships: Strengthening partnerships with nonprofits, local businesses, and civic organizations is key to sustaining innovation and addressing funding challenges across PSD.
For more information see interview with The Coloradoan.
Professional Experience
Full-time Substitute Teacher and Social Emotional Learning Specialist - Poudre and Thompson School Districts, 2020-present
Associate Professor in the School of Education - University of Northern Colorado, 2000-2020
Associate Professor in Education - San Jose State University
Small business owner/operator, marketing & management - several businesses, including Odwalla Juice Company, 1984-1990
Community Involvement
Co-Founder, Past Board Chair, Current Advisory Committee Member - Advocates for Public Education Policy nonprofit
Visiting International Professor - Universidade Federal dos Vales de Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM)
Fulbright Distinguished Teaching Fellow - Brazil, 2018-2019
Teacher-In-Residence Foreign Language Teacher - Brazil
Classroom Volunteer - Poudre School District
Board Member & Past President - Fort Collins Food Co-op
Board Member & Past President - Colorado Association for Bilingual Education
Member of the Site-Based Management Team - Lab School for Creative Learning
Representative to the District Advisory Board - Lab School for Creative Learning
Member of the Board of Trustees - Foothills Unitarian Church
Democratic Party Candidate for State Board of Education Representative, CO 4th Congressional District - 2006
Member Equity and Diversity Advisory Council - Poudre School District, for most of 20 years
Member - City of Fort Collins’ Air Quality Advisory Board
Chair of the Democratic Education Initiative
Board Member - Colorado chapter of the Partners of the Americas
Advisory Board Member - Mother International Institute of Education
Endorsements
Bob Bacon, Former State Senator and former PSD Board member
Joann Ginal, Former Fort Collins State Senator
Ross Cunniff, Former PSD Board President and Former Fort Collins Mayor Pro Tem
Susan Gutowsky, Former PSD School Board Member and Current City Council Member
Kelly Ohlson, Fort Collins City Councilmember and former Mayor of Fort Collins
Ray Martinez, Former Mayor of Fort Collins
M.L. Johnson, Ed.D., Ph.D. and Former PSD School Board Member
Tom Balchak, Retired PSD teacher, coach, Fine Arts curriculum coordinator, and former PSD Board President
Eric Hamrick, former Fort Collins City Council member
Alan Apt, former Fort Collins City Council member
Marty Tharp, former Fort Collins City Council member
Dr. Bill Timpson, Professor Emeritus, CSU
Ron Lautzenheiser, Northern Colorado Business Association
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