Get to know Board Member Jorge Chavez

En Español

Jorge Chavez was recently elected to the BVSD Board of Education in December 2023. He brings a unique blend of expertise in sociology and criminology to his role. Currently serving as an associate professor at CU Denver's School of Education and Human Development, Chavez's academic focus on social issues seamlessly aligns with his responsibilities on the School Board.

“My work focuses on understanding individuals in the context of schools, families and communities,” shared Chavez. “How does where you live, where you go to school and what opportunities are presented to you shape your ability to develop, and your opportunities for success in life? And how is that tied to social problems and patterns we see across race, ethnicity and socio-economic status?”

Having immigrated to the United States at the age of five, Chavez is deeply committed to fostering inclusive and supportive communities within BVSD. He advocates for a positive reinforcement approach to student discipline, emphasizing the need to address opportunity gaps and ensuring equitable access to educational programming.

“BVSD is becoming so much more diverse and we need to make sure we are including those families,” stressed Chavez.

“That is a big motivator for me, thinking about the diversity in BVSD and how we could better serve those students. My focus is hinged on how we can make sure we are supporting those who have been historically marginalized and looking at our discipline policies, restorative justice, and access to social/emotional and mental health.” 

Chavez's dedication to the BVSD community began when he moved here six years ago. As a parent of three students within the district, he has been actively involved in volunteering for various initiatives at Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer Elementary. His involvement ranges from participating in the school’s cultural night to leading the running club. 

He served on Pioneer’s School Accountability Committee (SAC), which is a representative advisory team that reviews school budgets, drives school improvements and supports parent engagement. From there he became the representative for Pioneer on the District Accountability Committee (DAC), a legally-constituted accountability and advisory committee that allows BVSD parents to have a voice in the district's budget, improvement plans, charter applications and more. He joined the DAC during their review of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program using his criminology and sociology background to help lead that effort. For two years he served as DAC’s executive committee chair.

Furthermore, Chavez has volunteered with BVSD's Family and Educators Together (FET) and the Latino Parents Advisory Committee/Consejo Asesor de Padres Latinos (CAPL), demonstrating his commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the district.

Encouraged by district families, constituents, and former Board member Richard Garcia, whose seat was opening due to being term-limited, Chavez decided to run for the BVSD Board of Education in 2023. 

“I talked to a lot of families that said it would be great to have a strong voice and someone that knows the district,” shared Chavez. “So I was like, I know the district and I’ve been doing this work for a while and I want to help out. My kids are going to be here for a long time and I think it’s a great district — so, I guess I’m doing this.”

Since assuming his position in December, he has brought his wealth of experience and passion for serving the community to the forefront and looks forward to engaging with families and students about the issues that matter to them in BVSD.

When not involved in Board responsibilities or teaching at CU Denver, Chavez enjoys spending time hanging out with family and friends, cooking, and coaching and playing soccer.

Have a question or feedback for Jorge? You can reach him via email at jorge.chavez@bvsd.org. To contact all seven board members (as well as the superintendent and the board secretary), email bvs.board@bvsd.org. Contact information for all members of the BVSD Board of Education can be found on the BVSD Board webpage.