News: Scheffel Re-Elected to Colorado State Board of Education

Scheffel Re-Elected to Colorado State Board of Education

Dr. Debora Scheffel, dean of the School of Education in the College of Undergraduate Studies at Colorado Christian University, has won re-election to the Colorado State Board of Education, representing the 4th Congressional District of Colorado (consisting of 22 counties or portions thereof, including Douglas and Weld). Scheffel was unanimously appointed to fill the seat on the State Board of Education in February 2018 after the resignation of Pam Mazanec. Scheffel, who will continue as dean, will now serve a full, six-year term on the board.

The Colorado State Board of Education is responsible for appointing the commissioner of education, setting state standards, hearing charter school appeals, granting waivers, overseeing teacher licensure, and administering grants approved by the legislature.

Scheffel was named dean of the School of Education in September 2013, and formerly held a seat on the State Board of Education, representing the 6th Congressional District of Colorado. Her extensive background in assessment includes service as the director of Academic Assessment at two universities and as a visiting scholar in assessment at the United States Air Force Academy. Scheffel's academic background includes study in communication sciences, disorders, and special education.

Her research interests have included the relationship of childhood disabilities to reading and oral language development, as well as the implications of brain-behavior relationships to the learning process.

"I believe every student deserves a quality education. Being an educator, I know teachers make the biggest difference in a student's education," said Scheffel. "Our teachers deserve our support and the resources to be successful. Parents are a child's first teacher and have a central role to play in identifying the best educational opportunities for their child. I will serve on the State Board as an experienced and passionate educator."

During Scheffel's tenure at CCU, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has named both the elementary and secondary education programs in CCU's School of Education as the top education programs in the State of Colorado, and in the 98th percentile of all education programs, nationwide.

To learn more about the School of Education in CCU's College of Undergraduate Studies, visit ccu.edu/education.