"As a teacher, I learned to put kids first. Now, I'm running for DPS Board's At-Large seat."
Statement from Ulcca Joshi Hansen​
I decided to run for Denver School Board because I saw our School Board bogged down by politics, ultimately getting away from ensuring that the district fully meets students’ needs. I felt that my experience and expertise in child development and education would bring a much-needed vision to our school board. The support was incredible. In my first week, I raised almost $35,000 from over 200 donors, and today, I have raised $47,000 from over 350 donors.
​
Over the past couple of weeks, it has become clear that this race will be dominated by the soft side, with soft-side spending outpacing campaign spending by 10 to 1. Having that support is crucial to winning this race. Last week, it became clear that I would not have that soft side support. After careful consideration and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from the current race.
​
I want to express my deepest gratitude to you and the entire community for your unwavering support throughout this journey. Your belief in our vision for better education and a brighter future has been truly inspiring. It's this support that has motivated me to take a step back and refocus, ensuring that we can come back stronger in the future.
​
Now, while this is an ending of sorts, I’d also like to think of it as a beginning. This is an opportunity to regroup and rebuild. Over the next two years, I'm committed to working tirelessly to refine our vision, engage with the community, and develop a comprehensive plan to address the challenges our schools face. This time will allow us to approach the 2025 election with renewed energy, a refined strategy, and an even deeper understanding of the needs of our students, parents, and educators.
​
Thank you again for your belief in me and the ideals we stand for. Let's remain united in our commitment to better education and stronger communities. I am excited to see what we can accomplish together in the future.
​
Thank you,
​
Ulcca Joshi Hansen
"I began my career as a classroom teacher. I learned how critical it was to provide students with experiences that supported their social and emotional well-being, interests, passions, and strengths in addition to core academic content. And I learned as a teacher just how hard it was to do this for each one of my 33 kids, whether that was doing home visits and getting to know my kids' families, keeping my classroom doors open to my students in the afternoon so they had someplace to be, or building relationships in the neighborhood so that our kids knew folks were looking out for them as they walked home."
