Deborah L. Sims Fard
Non-Partisan | Colorado
Candidate Profile
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Deborah L. Sims Fard
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2025
Election
General School Boards
Race
Denver Public Schools Board of Education, At-Large Seat
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Interdisciplinary Elementary Education, 2008
Community College of Denver, Denver, Associate Early Childhood Education, 1995
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Stiles African American Heritage Center, Board Member, 2
Black Parent Network, Board Member, 11/2
DCTA, Board Member, 1
Kwanzaa Committee of Denver, Chair, 1
Dr. Justina Ford STEM Institute, Founder, 10+
NAACP, Member, 5
North City Park Neighborhood/Skyland, Member, 10+
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
N/A
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
N/A
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
N/A
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Neutral
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
While the primary mission of educational institutions is academic instruction, schools frequently find themselves in a broader role, offering guidance and support in areas that impact student well-being. In the case of an unwanted or crisis pregnancy, the school has a responsibility to respond with care, discretion, and appropriate resources. This includes connecting the student with professional support services, facilitating communication with family when appropriate, and ensuring the student’s physical and emotional safety. By doing so, the school can help foster a supportive environment that contributes to the best possible outcome for all parties involved.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Teachers should be required to instruct students on mandated curriculum even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
It depends on the nature of the content being delivered, and the needs of the intended audience. Standardization should ensure consistency, equity, and measurable outcomes, while personalization allows for differentiation, relevance, and student engagement. An effective curriculum recognizes the value of both approaches and adapts accordingly to support meaningful and inclusive learning experiences for all involved.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Neutral
Free enterprise and the right to private property are often regarded as cornerstones of a productive economic system. These principles are embedded in the American ethos, often linked to the Declaration of Independence—"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." However, it is important to accept that access to these rights has not been equitable throughout American history. Despite these historical injustices, countless individuals and communities have demonstrated extraordinary resilience
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
The federal government has both an opportunity and a responsibility to invest in the education of its citizens, from ECE thru higher education. Comprehensive public education funding is essential not only for individual advancement but to address long-standing inequities faced by disadvantaged communities and individuals with disabilities. Ensuring equitable access to quality education promotes a more informed, skilled, and engaged population.
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Agree
Educational institutions have a responsibility to provide students with accurate, evidence-based information in a way that is age-appropriate, respectful, and inclusive. When it comes to sensitive topics such as reproductive health and gender identity, schools should not promote any particular agenda, but rather serve as neutral facilitators—connecting students and families to credible, licensed resources when needed.
Consistent discipline creates a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Strongly Agree
Safe learning environments have established codes of conduct to ensure optimal learning for each student. The best learning takes place when there are clear boundaries and predictable consequences that are understood by students, families, and staff.
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Strongly Agree
Understanding the foundational texts of the United States—such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—is essential for developing informed citizens who can engage meaningfully in a democratic society. True patriotism is not blind allegiance, but a commitment to acknowledging both the nation’s strengths and its shortcomings.
I support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Strongly Agree
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Disagree
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
Social Emotional Learning, Language Arts, Mathematics, Physical Fitness, Art & Music, Science, IT, American History, Personal Finances, Foreign Language.
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Disagree
Which should students have: equity of outcomes or equality of opportunities?
An educational system that aims for fairness should prioritize equity.
Which type of written parental consent should be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)? (A) Opt-In. (B) Opt-Out. (C) None.
CSE.
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Neutral
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
In the event of a pandemic, school districts can mandate whatever health precautions they deem necessary (including masks and vaccines) to protect students and staff.
Agree
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
Choose not to answer
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in a living God, a higher power.
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
Parents are a child's first and most influential educators, especially when it comes to values, beliefs, and early understanding of human development. However, learning institutions also play a critical role in providing accurate, science-based sexual education that complements what students learn at home.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development
human anatomy/reproductive system, physical and emotional health outcomes, abstinence. consent, contraceptive methods. gender identity. stages of pregnancy, abortion methods and side effects.
Children have a right to reach maturity without chemical or surgical castration, which would damage their healthy bodies through surgeries and may cause a life-long dependence on cross-sex hormones.
Neutral
Children have the right to be protected from sexual grooming (including drag shows and explicit materials) in schools and libraries.
Agree
The primary purpose of formal education is to equip students with academic knowledge, critical thinking skills, and social-emotional tools that support lifelong learning and responsible citizenship. Educational content should always be age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with community standards and educational goals.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman essential to the formation and sustaining of a civil and prosperous society.
Neutral
Marriage is a God-ordained union between a man and woman for the purpose of procreation.
Parents have the fundamental right to raise their child in accordance with their beliefs and values, including the right to make decisions about the child's education and healthcare.
Agree
Parents should have full and timely access to any and all records, including school and medical records, associated with their minor children.
Neutral
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
EQUALITY
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Neutral
