Valverde

I have served as Principal of Denver Online since 2014. Over the past twelve years, our team has grown the school from 125 students to 575 in 2025–26. That growth reflects families seeking a flexible, rigorous option where students are seen as individuals while still being held to high academic expectations.Denver Online was built on a simple belief: flexibility should expand opportunity, not lower standards. Our courses are teacher-developed and aligned to Denver Public Schools’ high-quality instructional materials. Students work directly with educators who provide feedback, structure, and accountability in a human-centered online environment. Many of our students report that college coursework feels manageable because of the rigor they experience here.Concurrent enrollment is a hallmark of our model. Students earn college credit free of charge through more than a dozen college partners, online and in person. They pursue customized pathways that may include college classes, career credentials, athletics, arts, employment, or family responsibilities. This flexibility attracts both highly driven students accelerating their goals and students navigating complex life circumstances. Both deserve access to strong academics and caring adults.We are equally committed to whole-child support. We intentionally staff mental health services at significantly higher levels than traditional schools, partner with WellPower to provide an embedded clinical therapist, and operate a food pantry to support families. Our Advisement model ensures each student has a dedicated adult who monitors engagement, supports goal-setting, and maintains consistent communication with families.As both a principal and a parent of a Denver Online graduate, I have seen firsthand what is possible when flexibility, rigor, and care align. Students do not all arrive with the same starting point, but they leave with confidence, postsecondary momentum, and a clearer sense of purpose.Denver Online is not simply an online school. It is a community built to ensure students can “Do More” in their academics, community, and lives. I am proud of what we have built and deeply committed to continuing this work for every student who needs it.