Goff Picked To Replace Middleton On SBOE

  Jefferson County Schools teachers union president Jane Goff was appointed Saturday afternoon to fill Karen Middleton's CD-7 seat on the Colorado State Board of Education.

Goff, an Arvada resident who had been running for Middleton's seat since last fall, was picked on the second ballot over three other candidates by a vacancy committee, said committee chair Ann Knollman.

Goff said she will be sworn sometime during the first week of March.

The seat opened up when Middleton was appointed to the 42nd District House seat Feb. 10. Middleton replaced state Rep. Michael Garcia (D-Aurora), who resigned Feb. 1 following allegations he exposed himself to a lobbyist at a Denver pool hall.

Goff, an educator for 34 years, has served as president of the Jefferson County Education Association from 1998-2000 and vice-president of the Colorado Education Association from 2000-2006.

Goff said she was "very, very gratified" by the appointment.

"We all need to be concerned doing what we can to increase graduation rates, close learning gaps, provide opportunities for all kids to be prepared for post-secondary education and the workforce -the skills they need to have in the 21st century," she said.

Goff was chosen over Guillermo Serna from Commerce City, Monisha Merchant from Lakewood, and Dan Morris of Arapahoe County, Knollman said.