Creativity Challenge Community (C3) was founded in 2012 through a collaborative effort led by Founding Principal Julia Miller Shepherd, who convened a team of educators and parents to design an innovative elementary program in response to local demand and declining public school enrollment. Rooted in creative thinking, community partnerships, and strong parental involvement, C3 launched with 90 students and quickly expanded to a full K–5 program serving over 300 students. Approved by the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Board in 2011, C3 later became a founding member of Denver’s first Innovation Zone—the Luminary Learning Network (LLN)—establishing a unique governance model with an independent board and increased autonomy. Recognized for its strong performance, C3 has consistently earned top ratings on the DPS School Performance Framework and received both the Governor’s Award for Excellence and the John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award from the Colorado Department of Education.
Creativity Challenge Community (C3)
