June 8, 2026
Dear Inspire Elementary School Community,
Thank you for your continued partnership in the Inspire Elementary School principal selection process. Our priority is to ensure the well-being of our students, staff, and school community. Given the timing of the school year and the need to prioritize organizational stability and planning for the upcoming year, we are proceeding with an interim leader at this time. We have made the decision to appoint Mrs. Chi Onyewuenyi as the interim principal at Inspire Elementary School. We are confident that Mrs. Onyewuenyi will enter Inspire ready to serve and will lead with vision, collaboration, heart, and commitment to student success.
As previously shared, Mrs. Chi Onyewuenyi is a visionary school leader with 20 years of experience within Denver Public Schools and beyond. Her career in education began in California, where she earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Fresno. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and brings a unique, "full-circle" perspective to education as a proud alumna of Denver Public Schools, CU Denver, and Regis University. Born and raised in Denver, a proud DPS parent, and an original member of the 2015 Design Team that helped plan and launch Inspire Elementary, Mrs. Onyewuenyi is deeply committed to the city of Denver and its students, both professionally and personally. Before her current role as Assistant Principal at William (Bill) Roberts K-8, she spent 15 impactful years in the classroom teaching Kindergarten, 1st, and 3rd grades. Anchored by her core belief of accessible excellence, her leadership vision for Inspire Elementary centers on cultivating a vibrant school community where high academic expectations are met with nurturing support. Partnering closely with staff and families, Mrs. Onyewuenyi is committed to ensuring that all learners have the tools, connection, and sense of true belonging needed to flourish every single day.
To support the Inspire staff and community with these transitions, we are excited to welcome former DPS leader Dori Claunch who will serve as a principal mentor for the Inspire leadership team. Ms. Claunch has extensive leadership experience and most recently served as a principal support partner in the Elevate Network in DPS. Ms. Claunch will work closely with Mrs. Onywuenyi, Assistant Principal Jon Wilsey, and the Inspire leadership team over the summer and will be on campus multiple days per week in August.
We appreciate your partnership and support during this transition. In the fall, we will work with the community regarding the next steps in the principal selection process.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sandy Lochhead
Director, Elementary Network 1
Jason Krause
Director, Elementary Network 2
Wayman White
Operational Services Director