Christine Hollister

The School District 27J Board of Education has two new members following an evening of interviews with candidates June 29. Carolyn Horstman will serve as director for District 6. Josette Alvarado will serve as director for District 7.

    Three candidates applied for the District 6 seat, which was vacated when Todd Cordrey resigned to continue his personal education. Two candidates applied for the District 7 seat, which was vacated when Lynn Ann Sheats resigned as president of the board to take a position as administrative secretary to the board and superintendent.

    Horstman and Alvarado will be sworn in July 20 in the Educational Services Center. Their first board meeting will be in August.

Josette Alvarado, District 7

    Alvarado said her past involvement in the 27J district in various roles will help her to bring issues that matter to teachers and other parents in the schools back to the board.

    “I have been a substitute teacher for the past three years,” she said. “This, along with my involvement at my kids’ school and extra-curricular activities, has allowed me the benefit of meeting several parents within the community. As such, I feel that I can bring the thoughts and opinions of our community to the school board.”

    Alvarado has been involved with 27J in the past as a parent, volunteer, PTA member and substitute teacher. She looks forward to working through the challenges that face the district.  

    “Our economy continues to struggle and balancing the budget amid our economic crisis is something the school board team will need to continue to work on as difficult decisions must be made to ensure that the primary goal of delivering a quality education is maintained,” she said.

    “In order for a quality education to be obtained, we must also focus on the external contributors to delivering an education,” she added. “One area I would like to see addressed during my time on the board is school breakfasts and lunches and the nutritional value they provide in order to assist and maximize our children’s learning potential.”

    Alvarado is a full-time mom and wife, she’s been a Colorado resident her entire life and was born and raised in Fort Lupton. She graduated from Fort Lupton High School and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University. She has two children and the family has lived in 27J’s District 7 for nine years.

Carolyn Horstman, District 6

    In addition to bettering the community and school district as a whole, Horstman has four personal reasons to see the 27J School District continues its success: her grandchildren.

    “The caliber of school teachers I’ve seen with my grandchildren, I have really been impressed,” she said. “I have an interest to see that they continue to get the best education possible.”

    Horstman was appointed as District 6 Director of the 27J Board of Education June 29. A Utah native, she and her husband, John, have been married for 40 years. They’ve lived in Brighton for the last 10 years and previously lived in Thornton for 10 years. Horstman has been interested in education since she first began college, starting out as an elementary education major. She graduated in business management.

    She worked at Horizon High School as a bookkeeper for four years, then worked for the test preparation company, Princeton Review, for eight years. She feels her work experience can help her better understand the best way to work through the tough financial issues the district faces.

    “When your income is cut in a business, you just have to try to be more efficient at what you do,” she said. “It seems to be that everyone is sacrificing a lot right now. We just have to try a little better to work a little harder.”

    A couple of other issues she would like to see addressed in her time on the board include offering more opportunities for students to earn associates degrees while still in high school, and she would also like to see later school start dates—preferably after Labor Day.

    She looks forward to getting to know the other members of the board.

     “I like the school board, it seems to be very diverse,” she said. “They all have good opinions and do their best for the people here in this community.

    “I’m excited to help and serve the community,” she added. “I want to hit the ground running.”