Terms: 2017 - 2021, 2021-2025

Contact Information
1115 N. El Paso Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
BOE Office Phone: (719) 520-2004
District Cell:(719) 235-2311
District Email: julie.ott@d11.org
INSPIRE EVERY MIND
Dear D11 Family,
On behalf of the Board of Education, I welcome you to The Colorado Springs School District 11 as we proudly celebrate our 150th year of service to this community. Mary ‘Queen’ Palmer, the wife of General William Palmer, started a small school at the corner of Cascade and Bijou Streets in 1872 on a bedrock of excellence. Excellence in Education. Excellence in Service. Through the years, D11 has been the cornerstone of Colorado Springs, preparing this community’s children for success after graduation. As we look into the future, we are committed to the visionary mission of Mrs. Palmer, ensuring all our students receive a rich and rigorous educational experience built on fundamentals while providing them multiple pathways to explore their passion for continuous improvement and learning.
District 11 offers a wide array of educational programs to our students, including International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement classes, exploring work-based learning opportunities through our award-winning Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, earning college credits and degrees while still in high school, and participating in extra-curricular activities such as the arts, intramural and varsity sports, or a variety of student-led clubs. Our expert staff is available and prepared to assist you with choosing the academic pathway best suited for your long-term goals.
The Board of Education is excited to start this academic year working in partnership with Superintendent Michael Gaal to advance the priorities of student success, staff investment, community engagement, and building a strong and sustainable future for District 11. Mr. Gaal comes to D11 with impressive credentials and experience, focused on increasing central office support to our schools, improving collaboration and communication across all levels, and serving our entire D11 community. Working jointly with Mr. Gaal and our team of educators, the Board is committed to meeting every student where they are in their K-12 educational journey and fostering a welcoming, safe, and academically focused culture where all students are seen, valued, supported, and empowered for future success.
As our schools return to being vibrant community hubs after the challenges of the past couple of years, I encourage our parents, guardians, and stakeholders to share their expertise with our students and volunteer in our classrooms. More than ever, it takes an entire community to meet the diverse needs of our students. Parent and community engagement in our schools is critical for continued student success. The Board collectively renewed our commitment to visit every school and continue to build communication channels with our community. We look forward to engaging with you during our school visits and gathering feedback to help guide our work.
As we celebrate the District’s 150th anniversary, our promise is a renewed focus on continuing Queen Palmer’s founding vision of excellence in everything we do.
Please join us on our journey to excellence as we lead into the future while learning from our illustrious past. Together in partnership, we will continue to make our district a special place to work, learn, and thrive.
Dr. Parth Melpakam
President, D11 Board of Education
Parth Melpakam was elected to the District 11 Board of Education in November 2019. Served as the Treasurer from 2019-2021 and currently serves as the President.
Parth was born and raised in India. He attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie and graduated with a doctoral degree in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. Over the past 25 years, Parth has worked in various capacities in the Oil & Gas industry including exploration, design, research and data analysis, production, and recovery while advocating for technology that minimizes the impact and footprint on the environment.
Parth has been actively engaged in various District 11 committees over the past 6 years. His volunteer work includes serving as the Chair of the School Accountability Committee at Scott Elementary School, member of both the District Accreditation and Budget Subcommittees, and Chairing the District Accountability Committee (2017-2019). He also served on the team that was instrumental in developing the current D11 Strategic Plan.
As a parent of a D11 student, Parth Melpakam is dedicated to student-centered solutions, access to high-quality education for every child, and meeting the needs of the whole student. Educational equity for every D11 stakeholder, building community relationships to benefit our schools, and responsible stewardship of taxpayers dollars are his key priorities.
Parth and his wife Rebecca have lived in Colorado for the past 23 years. They have one daughter attending a District 11 middle school. Parth loves cheering for the Broncos and spending time with his family in the great Colorado outdoors camping, hiking, and exploring the backcountry.
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Jason Jorgenson was elected to the District 11 Board of Education in November 2019. Served as Director from 2019-2021 and currently serves as the Vice President.
Jason Jorgenson was born and raised in Colorado Springs, attending Carver Elementary School, Sabin Middle School, and graduating from Doherty High School in 2003. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from UCCS in 2007, and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in December of 2010. Jason was a middle school science teacher in Harrison School District Two for 10 years and served in many leadership capacities at the school and district levels, including the District Advisory Committee (DAC). Jason Jorgenson was known in his education profession as an engaged mentor, district level advocate for students and best teaching practices, and as an active voice in curriculum and instructional strategies that served students best.
Jason has been married to his wife Tiffany since 2010, and they have three children. He recently left teaching to spend more time with his children and to pursue his passion in financial services and retirement planning. Jason spends his free time mountain biking, camping and spending as much time with his family and friends as possible.
Jason Jorgenson’s goals as he serves on the board are to engage the communities around each school, expand the partnerships and success of vocational trades education and entrepreneurship, increase financial literacy skills for students and their families, and to reduce the amount of state and federal mandates that restrict D11 in providing what our students need for their success.
DR. SANDRA BANKES - SECRETARY
Term: 2021-2025
Contact Information
1115 N. El Paso Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
BOE Office Phone: (719) 520-2000
District Cell: (719) 505-3792
District Email: sandra.bankes@d11.org
Sandra grew up and attended junior college in East Los Angeles. She has worked in both the private and public sector. The majority of her experience is in education. The Bankes family arrived in Colorado Springs in 1980. Her children are graduates of D11 schools.
She has held a variety of educational positions. The wealth of her experience provides targeted focus to promote student achievement. Sandra currently holds a Colorado Teacher’s License, and has taught in elementary and middle schools. Among the various teaching opportunities, she has taught master’s level teacher education classes, served at various D11 schools as a reading and writing interventionist.
She was the Gifted and Talented coordinator in Harrison School District for the schools east of Academy Boulevard, holds a master’s degree with an emphasis in gifted and talented education from UCCS, and inducted into the Academy of Educators of the Gifted, Talented, Creative.
Dr. Bankes has traveled to China through Phi Delta Kappa International School Study Tour, and to Egypt as part of a Reading and Literacy Education Delegation. She has been a principal in two elementary schools, an assistant principal in two D11 schools, and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Denver.
She has served as scholarship chair for Phi Delta Kappa, and as an assessment supervisor for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Currently, she sits on the Tony Grampas Youth Services Program Board, and PPIRA (El Paso County literacy group).
LAUREN NELSON - TREASURER
Term 2021 - 2025
Contact Information
1115 N. El Paso Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
BOE Office Phone: (719) 520-2004
District Cell: (719) 322-3561
District Email: lauren.nelson@d11.org
Lauren Nelson was elected to District 11 Board of Education in November 2021. She serves as Treasurer on the School Board.
Lauren grew up in Colorado Springs and attended District 11 schools Kindergarten through 12th grade at Audubon Elementary, Horace Mann Middle and Palmer High School. After graduating from Palmer she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Food Science with a Food Science/Food Safety concentration from Colorado State University. She has two kids in a D11 elementary school and prior to being a stay-at-home mom, worked as a Food Scientist in product development for 6 years for major food corporations. Her role as a Food Scientist renovating/innovating products and flavors required project management skills to manage timelines, evaluate costs, collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Culinary, Finance, Regulatory, Operations, Engineering, Product Development, Quality Assurance, Purchasing, Factory Personnel, and Ingredient Suppliers. She was responsible for benchtop development through managing scale up to full factory production to launch quality products into the marketplace ranging from $23MM-$173MM in annual sales.
Since being a stay-at-home-mom Lauren has enjoyed volunteering as the Co-President/Secretary on the Board of Quaker Ridge Camp and Conference Center, teaching a children’s Bible Study and playing violin in the Pikes Peak Philharmonic Community Orchestra as well as with her worship team at church. She enjoys camping in the Colorado outdoors with her family, water skiing, reading, cooking, and baking.
Lauren will prioritize excellence in education for all students in District 11. She is a proponent of parent choice, is committed to supporting the Board of Education in focusing on academic growth, fiscal responsibility, district accountability, and providing increased transparency to parents and community members.
Mrs. Daniels is a New Orleans Public School graduate. She has lived in Colorado since 1998. Her family began in Denver, Colorado and moved to Colorado Springs in September 2001. Her primary responsibility upon arriving was motherhood, raising four young men. She has one graduate of D11 and three remaining D11 students. Listed below are various trainings, volunteering and committees in Colorado Springs she has participated in. Each opportunity has developed and sharpened Mrs. Daniels' skills for community engagement, networking and leadership.
Darleen Daniels has a heart to see students succeed in public education. She has a heart for service to the Colorado Springs community, especially after participating in the D11 Leadership Classes, District Accountability Committee (DAC), School Accountability Committee (SAC), working as a lunchroom aide, as an Educational Support Professional (ESP) and now as a substitute teacher. Her priorities are developing in her role as a board member; building rapport with the Superintendent, incumbent board members, teachers, staff, janitors, etc.; and doing what’s best for public education in Colorado Springs School District 11.
Contact Information
1115 N. El Paso Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
BOE Office Phone: (719) 520-2004
District Cell:(719) 235-2311
District Email: julie.ott@d11.org
Julie has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Masters Degree in Land Resources from University of Wisconsin-Madison. After initial work at environmental nonprofits, Julie became a community and parent volunteer and has spent time volunteering with Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Service; and Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning charter school. After D11 authorized the school in 2009, Julie served on its board, including two years as Board Secretary and three years as Board President.
Julie continues to be involved in the community, especially in the League of Women Voters, where she advocates for accountability and transparency in government, voter registration and voter education. Julie was a member of the Coronado High School's PTA and School Accountability Committee before her children graduated from school. She also served on the Pikes Peak Area Council of Government’s Community Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2019.