LPS Board of Education candidates tackle AI, school safety, and conflict resolution
Littleton voters will choose three Littleton Public Schools (LPS) Board of Education members this fall. At an Oct. 1 forum hosted by the League of Women Voters and LPS, candidates outlined how they would address school safety, the role of AI in learning, and how they handle disagreement.
Incumbents Andrew Graham and Joan Anderssen are seeking re-election. Newcomers Sean O'Shea and Jess Vestal are also on the ballot. The third seat is currently held by Angela Christensen, who is not running.
School safety: physical security, mental health, and trust
Safety dominated discussion, with the recent investigation into an LPS paraprofessional accused of abusing non-verbal autistic students on a bus as context. Vestal, whose child is one of the alleged victims, called for honest assessment and accountability.
"We need to make sure that we have the right people in the right places, and make sure that we're having hard, uncomfortable conversations," Vestal said. "We can make sure that we're prepared for any type of event and hopefully never have to use that preparedness."
Anderssen emphasized student wellbeing alongside secure buildings. "We have to take several steps to make sure our students feel safe in our (ability) to keep them safe, not just because we have school resource officers," she said, highlighting social workers and aides as critical supports.
Graham pointed to system upgrades and partnerships: "We've added over 200 cameras in the district, and those live feeds are very important," he said, citing coordination with Littleton Police and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department. "I want no suicides, I want no shootings and I want no scary stuff."
O'Shea praised progress since the 2013 Arapahoe High School shooting and pushed for relationship-centered safety. "We have to be curious," he said. "We have to put money into our social worker staff, our counselors and increase training for SROs."
- For educators: clarify reporting pathways, escalate concerns early, and document consistently.
- Partner with mental health teams to proactively support students whose behavior signals outside stressors.
- Request regular briefings on crisis plans, camera use and retention policies, and SRO training scope.
AI in classrooms: tool, policy, and practice
All four candidates support AI integration with thoughtful guardrails. Anderssen said students must practice with AI to be workplace-ready: "Students need to know how to use AI... It's important to learn how to use tools."
Graham called AI "complicated," but said schools should aim for a tech-enabled future: "We can't beat the kids… What we can do is keep up."
O'Shea focused on ethics and professional learning for teachers: "There are going to be some wonderful benefits… if we're training our students to be critical thinkers and ethical practitioners."
Vestal pushed for a board-level policy that frames AI as a tool, not a substitute for student thinking. "We have to teach students about when it's appropriate to use (AI) and when (teachers) want to hear from their organic thoughts."
- Draft or update an AI acceptable-use policy that covers attribution, data privacy, academic integrity, and accessibility.
- Integrate AI literacy into writing, research, and media studies, paired with lessons on bias, privacy, and source evaluation.
- Provide PD on classroom-safe AI tools, prompt design, and assessment strategies that preserve authenticity.
Helpful resources: the U.S. Department of Education's guidance on AI in teaching and learning offers policy and classroom considerations. View the overview.
If you're building a faculty PD plan around AI skills by role, you can find curated options here: Complete AI Training: Courses by Job.
Conflict resolution: respect, consensus, and process
Asked how they handle disagreements, candidates stressed respect and forward motion. O'Shea said, "I don't shy away from disagreement, and I can disagree with somebody and still keep it respectful," noting his work to reach consensus in the nonprofit sector.
Vestal pointed to her own difficult interactions with the board following the bus incident. "I very easily could have been angry, thrown in the towel and went home, but chose to be angry and come to the table," she said.
Anderssen framed board disputes as part of healthy governance. "The best thing is, when we disagree, we have to agree to disagree… They got more votes. I live with that, right?"
Graham added that intent matters. "We're trying to do what's best for the kids… There will be tough conversations. That's the fun part."
- For school leaders: set clear decision records-what was decided, why, and how input shaped the outcome.
- Normalize structured disagreement in teams (protocols, time limits, and next steps) to keep work moving.
- Offer staff channels for feedback and closure after high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters for educators
- Expect continued investment in both safety tech and mental health staffing-and be ready to collaborate on implementation.
- AI will enter routine instruction. Policies and PD need to land this year so expectations are clear for students and staff.
- Board culture influences building culture. Respectful disagreement and transparent process reduce churn and burnout.
Key date
The municipal election is set for Nov. 4. Engage now: review candidate positions, attend a forum, and share operational needs from your classroom or department with district leaders.
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