Thirteen years on the Cherry Creek Schools Board of Education brought tremendous satisfaction to Spence, who served on the school board from 1980 until 1993.

She was elected president of the board in 1985 for a two-year term and was elected as president for the second time in 1990. While serving on the board, the district never lost a budget or bond election – the result of positive community relationships and a history of keeping promises to the voters.

As a board member, she participated on the State Board for Gifted and Talented Education, the Galleria Metropolitan District Board of Directors, and was a founder of the Denver School of the Arts.

She was a member of the board in times of tremendous student growth as the district grew from 17,000 students in 1980 to almost 34,000 in 1993. During that time the district grappled with issues confronting the controversial opening of Eaglecrest High School, contentious issues surrounding “open classrooms,” mainstreaming of special needs students, and year-round education. The district was challenged as it strived to serve the academic needs of all it's youngsters in times of rapid student growth and changing educational priorities.

An accomplishment of which she is most proud is being a founding director of the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation. In the last fifteen years, the Foundation has generated millions of dollars to benefit students and teachers by providing funds to enrich the educational experience with dollars outside the general fund budget.

For thirteen years, she worked toward making the district mission a reality:

To inspire every student to think, to learn, to achieve, to care.

(photo)Sen.Spence on one of many visits to an elementary school in the Cherry Creek district