D38 | Board of Education : Vice President

In November of 2007 Mark Pfoff was appointed by the Lewis-Palmer School Board to fill the vacancy on the school board for district 4. This appointment was for 2 years. Mark was elected in November of 2009 and was re-elected in November of 2011. Mark currently holds the position of school board vice president which he has held since 2011.

Mark brings a unique background to the school board. Currently a Detective with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Mark specializes in computer crimes and Internet crimes against children. His 10+ years experience in law enforcement makes him a valued member and resource on the board. Focusing not only on student achievement, Mark has supported and worked with the district to help ensure we provide a safe and secure environment for our children. During Mark's term on the school board he has focused on fiscal responsibility, transparency and safety. He supported balancing the budget and multi-year budget projections. He continually supported and will support efforts to provide staff with competitive wages. Unfortunately during this economic crisis, the school district has been unable to provide pay raises, but did give our staff modest bonuses during the past holiday season.

For the second year in a row, Lewis-Palmer School District has received the highest accreditation awarded by the State of Colorado: Accredited with Distinction. This status is awarded only to the top ten percent in the state. Mark is committed to maintaining this level of achievement even with the ever diminishing state funding. He has demonstrated his ability to make the hard decisions when needed. Mark understands not every member of the community will agree with every decision made by the board, but he has shown his commitment to our students, our staff and our community.

Mark is proud that even during all the funding cuts the school board has continued to maintain high student achievement, a balanced budget and modest reserves. Every school district in the state is being forced into making extremely difficult decisions. Mark will continue to focus on educational achievement and the D38 staff (family).

Mark is committed to our children, our community, and our school district. He has taken many hours of his own time to give Internet Safety talks at multiple schools within the district. He was vocal about the need to continue having a School Resource Officer and is committed to providing a quality education to our children in a safe and secure environment.

Mark has taken the time to visit the schools and talk with teachers, staff, and parents. He has spent numerous hours, not just during school board meetings, learning the dynamics of being on the school board. He believes the role of the school board is not to manage the district, but rather to govern it. He has shown his willingness to interact with parents, students and the community by attending many PTO and other school meetings and functions throughout the school year.

Mark has a vested interest in the success of Lewis-Palmer as he has two children currently enrolled in the district.

Thank you for supporting our children.

Endorsements

"I worked for Lewis-Palmer School District 38 beginning in 1988 as the new principal for Kilmer Elementary School in its inaugural two years. I then worked as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the district and became Superintendent of the district in 1998. I retired in 2003 but was able to return as the Interim Superintendent for the 2010-2011 school year. I have worked with many board members over those 23 years, and none have been more sincere and cared more for our children than Mark Pfoff. It was a privilege to serve him and the other board members this past year. We made some difficult decisions but always in the best interests of our children and staff. Mark consistently demonstrated a clear understanding of the issues. His discussions with other board members and the public clearly revealed his grasp of curricular, financial, and personnel concepts vital to the success of our children and the school district. I am thrilled that he has chosen to run for another 4 year term on the school board. He will bring stability, consistency, and transparency to the school district. He will also keep the district focused on what is best for kids, will promote and encourage purposeful innovation, and will continue the pursuit of excellence for which this district is known. Mark Pfoff will receive my vote in November!"

- Dwight "Ted" Bauman