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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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