Get to know Branta Lockett, the Founder and Executive Director of 5280 Freedom School, and learn more about the work the school is doing in the Denver community and its plans for the future.

Founder and Executive Director Branta Lockett with a 5280 Freedom School Summer Camp student at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Summer 2022

How has your experience as a student inspired the vision for 5280 Freedom School?

Lockett: I experienced many of the elements of 5280 Freedom School in my K-12 public school education. I grew up in Miami, Florida, and at that time, most of my educators, including teachers and administrators, identified as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). My mother is a teacher, and my parents advocated for me throughout my K-12 experience. Fortunately, I had teachers who believed in my ability to learn and exceed academic goals. As a result, I believed in myself and had safe spaces to take intellectual risks.

My parents centered on Black people and principles in my upbringing. They helped me learn about Black history and helped me realize what it means to be Black and proud. I also participated in extracurricular activities that gave me access to learning opportunities outside of traditional schooling, such as dance, band, and drama. I also participated in academic bowls, spelling bees, badminton, and varsity cheerleading.

A school like 5280 Freedom School would have allowed me to have all these experiences and more in one place.

What gap would 5280 Freedom School be filling in Denver Public Schools (DPS)?

Lockett: Denver Public Schools need more inclusive and safe spaces for Black students. In the Black Excellence Resolution passed by the DPS board in February 2019, DPS stated that deficit mindsets, inequitable disciplinary practices, unclear expectations, and lack of access to learning opportunities are impacting the success of Black students across the district.

5280 Freedom School will fill this gap in DPS by providing a safe, affirming, uplifting, empowering learning environment for students. 5280 Freedom School will focus on the development of the whole child while prioritizing academic rigor. Using a targeted universalism approach, our school centers on Black people, principles, and knowledge while also preparing our students to become social change leaders.

You just completed your fifth year of 5280 Freedom School Summer Camp. What did students experience in camp this year?

Lockett: Sixty K through 9th-grade students participated in a variety of activities during this year’s two-week summer camp such as learning traditional African dance, completing research projects, and creating their own Rube Goldberg machines. Students spent time gardening, doing yoga, and practicing public speaking. Our camp lessons were centered around literacy, visual arts, entrepreneurship, Black History, nutrition, self-care, and social-emotional learning. Exciting field trips also took place including a day spent at Frontline Farming, a food and farmers advocacy group focusing on food growing, education, sovereignty, and justice, and a walking tour of the Five Points neighborhood.

Joy radiated in all of our classrooms this summer! Our Black students experienced love and learning from Black teachers, youth assistants, and community members. Every day was filled with honor and respect towards one another. Our 2021 Summer Camp concluded with a community barbecue for our students, teachers, and their families where our students showcased their learnings and modeled their growth.

The DPS Board voted to deny 5280 Freedom School’s charter application. 5280 Freedom School currently plans to file an appeal with the state Board of Education. What does this mean for the future of the school?

Lockett: Our appeal hearing with the Colorado State Board of Education is on Wednesday, August 17th. We would like to invite the community to attend the board meeting to let the Colorado State Board of Education see the support for opening the 5280 Freedom School. If the Board votes in favor of our appeal, we will move forward with our plans of opening our charter school in Fall 2023. If our appeal is rejected by the board we will postpone our opening date and work towards re-applying during the next cycle.

Regardless of the outcomes, we will continue our work and move forward in our plans to make 5280 Freedom School a reality for our students and the community. Our team and educators will continue offering our monthly “Saturday Freedom School Sessions” and our annual summer camp.

5280 Freedom School will be appealing to the Colorado State Board of Education on August 17th, 2022. The board hearing will take place at 1:30pm MST at 1525 Sherman St. Denver, CO 80203. If you would like to join in person, the school is asking that you wear black to show your support. The meeting will also be streamed live at https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeboard/watchlive

If you would like to learn more about 5280 Freedom School please visit their website at https://www.5280freedomschool.com/

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