Candidate Profile

I have lived in the Aspen Springs neighborhood with my husband and my two Gilpin students since March 2022.

I attended public schools near Minneapolis, Minn. (Lincoln Elementary, Meadow Lake Elementary, Technology Learning Campus / Technology and Language Campus, and Robbinsdale Cooper Senior High School). I attended North Dakota State University for a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (BSME). After graduation, I joined the IT department there and continued on to earn a master's degree in software engineering (MSE).

Most recently I attended the CASB Fall Delegates Conference 9/5 - 9/6/2025, where I attended sessions about creating a board onboarding process, parent engagement, confident communication and sparking opportunities, and engaged in peer-to-peer networking with other board members across Colorado. I also completed the Transformational School Leadership with Dr. Michael Hinojosa online training from CASB.

I have been a volunteer "teacher" in a Kids in STEM day hosted by NDSU 3 times. I have coached young kids in soccer (in ND) and have been a parent helper with Gilpin recreational baseball. I have been a parent volunteer for the 4th-5th grade Young AmeriTowne USA.

As a parent of two Gilpin students (5th, 7th grade), my family and I are deeply invested in the school community. We actively support our students' diverse interests and hard work by attending many of the music, sports, and theater events at all grade levels. It's important to me to be a visible and engaged member of the school community, and showing up to cheer on our students is a vital part of that commitment.

My career has been dedicated to engineering software and data solutions in the higher education sector for over 20 years. I am currently a Senior Data Engineer for the University of Colorado Boulder, and my work has always centered on building the applications that support a university's operations. My background also includes managing a development team, serving as a small business finance chief, and teaching mathematics. linkedin.com/in/jillande

• Current GCSD RE-1 board member June 2025 - present

• Gilpin Community Center recreation youth sports parent helper (baseball helper coach, stats book keeper, scoreboard operator, soccer line judge as needed) 2022 - present

• US Ski and Snowboard Volunteer 2022/2023 season - present

• MS Volleyball line judge, stats book keeper, or scoreboard operator as needed September 2025

• Parent volunteer for Gilpin 4th/5th grades Young AmeriTowne USA field trip March 2024

I believe our teachers are the most valuable asset in our school, and their compensation should reflect their level of education, training, and the critical role they play. While we are limited by state funding, and rising costs are consuming an increasing share of district funding and EET funding, I am committed to exploring every possible avenue to make our teacher and staff compensation package as competitive as we can. This includes seeking out new partnerships with local government and businesses for creative non-monetary benefits, offering robust professional development opportunities, finding ways to bring in more substitute teachers so we can protect the teachers' planning time, and other quality-of-life improvements that don't necessarily draw from the budget. My focus will be on attracting, upskilling, and retaining the best talent, as a high-quality, stable teaching staff is the most efficient and effective way to ensure our students' success.

The SWATting incident was a serious event that highlighted the need for a clear and well-rehearsed emergency response plan. I'm encouraged that the administration and Sheriff's Office have already taken steps to improve communication and clarify command. As a board member, I would advocate for an annual, publicly-available review of our emergency plan, so that all families, new and old, understand the procedures. Furthermore, I believe we should conduct an annual, adults-only practice drill with staff and emergency responders on a non-school day to identify and fix any weaknesses in the system. Our students' and staff's safety is our top priority, and we must be proactive and prepared.

A robust safety plan also requires transparent, appropriate communication with parents. While the specific, tactical details of our security plan must remain confidential--shared only on a need-to-know basis with school and law enforcement officials--parents should be annually and clearly informed of their expected role during an emergency. By proactively communicating protocols like incident communication and reunification procedures, we can empower parents to be a constructive part of the response process, reducing interference and ensuring they remain supportive partners with the district and first responders during a crisis.

As a school board member, I believe our primary responsibility is to create a safe and healthy learning environment for all students. I support following the public health guidelines, including the state's required vaccination schedule for school attendance, as they are based on the consensus of medical experts and are designed to protect our entire school community from preventable diseases. Colorado law already provides clear and established procedures for families who wish to opt out, and I believe these medical and philosophical exemptions are the appropriate way to address individual circumstances.

It is important to note that the authority to set vaccination requirements for school entry rests with the State of Colorado, not with individual school districts. Any school board policy regarding vaccinations must comply with state law. Therefore, a school board's role is to ensure our policies adhere to state statute, and any candidate who claims they would end vaccination requirements at the local level is making a promise that is outside the legal authority of the school board. For a change of this kind to be considered, it would need to be addressed at the state legislative level.

I do not support banning books from our school library. I believe that professional librarians and educators are best equipped to select materials that support our curriculum and foster a love of reading in our students. A book's inclusion in a library is not an endorsement of every idea within it; rather, it's an opportunity for students to engage with a wide range of topics and perspectives, in a way that is age-appropriate and academically justified. The rights of parents to guide their own child's education are paramount, and a system can be established to accommodate requests for specific children to not have access to certain materials. However, I believe that a single parent's objection should not dictate the educational resources available to the entire student body.

While the school district pays for half of the SRO's salary, I believe the arrangement is a fair and mutually beneficial one for the county's taxpayers. The SRO provides an invaluable service that extends beyond the school's boundaries. They are a community policing officer who works to build positive relationships with our youth, and their on-site presence ensures an immediate and effective response to any emergency. The safety and well-being of our school directly impacts the entire Gilpin County community, and this partnership is an essential investment in the public safety and future of our entire community.

Benefits to taxpayers:

• Safety: The SRO provides a consistent, trusted presence at the school, building relationships with students and staff. This proactive approach can prevent issues before they escalate, which benefits the entire community, not just the school. A safe school is a safe community.

• Community Policing: The SRO isn't just a security guard; they are a community policing officer who can educate students on topics like cyberbullying, drug awareness, and law. This benefits all Gilpin County residents by fostering positive relationships between youth and law enforcement.

• Rapid Response: In an emergency, the SRO is immediately on site. This benefits every taxpayer because a faster response can save lives and prevent a tragedy that would affect the whole county.

I'm running for the Gilpin School Board because, as a Gilpin parent, I want to ensure our district's students are prepared for the future. Like many parents in our community, I see the challenges ahead--from shrinking enrollment and budget challenges, to new technologies like AI to a rapidly changing job market--and I want to lend my skills and dedication to help our district maintain an ambitious target for excellence. Having spent my career as a software engineer, I've learned that the best solutions come from a balance of strategic thinking and collaborative problem-solving. I'm committed to bringing that data-driven mindset and commitment to our school board to support our incredible teachers and build a school community that truly serves every student.

Yes, I will absolutely be able to meet the time requirements. I know that serving on the school board is much more than just attending the bi-monthly meetings. It involves hours of preparation to review materials, attending additional committee meetings, and representing the district at other local boards and conferences. I have made sure my schedule and professional obligations can accommodate this significant commitment because I am dedicated to serving our community and our students properly.

To me, diversity encompasses the wide range of life experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that our students and families bring to the table. Our role as a school board is to create an environment where every student feels seen, valued, and included, which is essential for preparing them to thrive in a complex, global world. As a board member, I would promote diversity through inclusive policies and practices. This includes advocating for a curriculum that reflects a wide range of voices and histories, ensuring our hiring practices attract a diverse pool of talented educators, reviewing policy to ensure it doesn't inadvertently create barriers for any student or family, and supporting community events that celebrate our different cultures. By fostering an inclusive environment, we help students develop empathy, respect, and critical thinking skills that will serve them long after they graduate.

Actively promote diversity as a board member:

• Recruitment: Advocate for policies that promote diverse candidate pools for teacher and staff positions. This could mean targeted outreach to diverse colleges or job fairs.

• Curriculum: Approve and support curriculum that reflects diverse perspectives. Ask for a review of the curriculum to ensure it includes a broad range of voices and historical experiences.

• Policy: Ensure that board policies are inclusive and do not inadvertently create barriers for any student or family. For example, reviewing dress code policies or disciplinary procedures to ensure they are equitable.

• Community Engagement: Promote community-wide events that celebrate diversity, such as cultural festivals or guest speakers.

Why diversity is important:

• It helps students develop empathy and respect for others.

• It better prepares them for a globally connected workforce and society.

• Diverse perspectives foster innovation and creative problem-solving.

• It can lead to richer classroom discussions and a deeper understanding of academic subjects.

I am committed to a secular approach to public education for all our students. This approach is not only a long-standing principle in our country's public education system, but it is also a practical necessity for creating a neutral and inclusive learning environment. It ensures that every student, regardless of their family's beliefs, receives a high-quality education grounded in science and a complete, factual account of history. Our curriculum should be academically rigorous and prepare students to be informed and critically-thinking citizens, while respecting the diverse religious backgrounds of our community. This is the vision I would uphold as a school board member.

The role of the school board is to set the vision for the district's curriculum. While state law requires the board to determine the educational programs, in practice, this is a collaborative effort. The board works with the superintendent to approve curriculum and educational programs that are developed and recommended by professional educators. We ensure that these programs align with the district's academic standards and are effective for all students. This process is about setting broad policy and trusting the experts hired to implement a high-quality education for our children.

The board's role in setting curriculum is an excellent example of the balance between legal responsibility, professional expertise, and community values.

Legal Authority and Board Responsibility: By state law, the Board of Education is legally responsible for determining the educational programs carried out in our schools. This means the board holds the ultimate authority for the district's curriculum and instructional materials. We set the broad academic standards and approve courses of study and new programs. This responsibility also includes ensuring curriculum is aligned with state standards and that it's regularly reviewed for effectiveness, educational equity, and breadth.

The Collaborative Process: While the board holds the legal authority, the day-to-day work of curriculum development is a collaborative enterprise. It is led by the superintendent and involves administrators, teachers, parents, and community members. This process is essential for ensuring that our curriculum is academically sound, innovative, and reflective of our community's needs. The board's practical role is to review and approve the recommendations that come up from these curriculum review committees.

Policy and Practice: It's a respectful partnership: the board sets the broad policy, approves the budget for curriculum resources, and holds the administration accountable for student achievement. The educational professionals are then trusted to develop and implement the curriculum that meets those high standards. This approach ensures that our educational program is based on a foundation of professional expertise, while also remaining transparent and responsive to the community.