BOARD CHAIR
Class of 1994

A Denver native, Ernie Jones is a graduate of Manual High School, Class of 1994, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Grinnell College. He is the proud father of three sons - Nigel (Manual Class of 2025), Felix (Manual Class of 2030), and Omar (Manual Class of 2034). Ernie is deeply passionate about the Northeast Denver community and the Manual campus, and is committed to showing students that their opportunities are limitless. #showthemeverything

TREASURER
Class of 1988

Blake, his brother, Lyle Johnson (1986), and sister Ashley Rust (1991) all graduated from Manual. Blake received his BA in Economics from DePauw University, Greencastle, IN in 1992 and MBA in Finance from Indiana University in 1996. 
 
Blake is CFO of Devils Thumb Ranch and Marker Hill Capital. His experience includes Commercial real estate development, oil and gas investments. He owns, builds and manages hotels, office buildings and retail buildings.  Prior career work includes consultant at PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP, programming financial software, investment banking, and private equity, strategy at Level 3 Communications (where he worked with Tom Boasberg). 
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In addition to Friends of Manual, Blake serves on the board of Skyline Acres. He started a Robotics Club at his son's school.  His wife, Lisa Grey Johnson founded and is director of Girls on the Run of the Rockies, a non-profit after school curriculum service over 5,000 girls a year in over 200 schools, many of which are in DPS. 
 
Blake wants to serve the Manual community and help provide the school community and neighborhood, the pride, political and financial support to help the Manual kids and families.

SECRETARY
Class of 1980

Class of 1978

A Denver native, Kimberle Jackson-Butler graduated from Manual High School, Class of 1978, and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado. She holds a Master’s in Family Counseling from Loyola Marymount University and a Doctorate in Neuroscience Education from Johns Hopkins University, School of Education. Dr. Jackson-Butler serves as the Executive Director of LAW SCHOOL...Yes We Can, an innovative organization dedicated to removing barriers for high-achieving students from underrepresented communities who aspire to pursue law school and legal careers.

Kimberle is also a CU Foundation Trustee, a member of the Denver Foundation’s ACCI (Advisory Committee for Community Impact), and a member of the EDCI (Executive Directors of Color Institute) cohort.
 
Kimberle resides in Denver and is the proud mother of two daughters, Kaitlin and Nicolle.​

Parent of Manual Students

Allison and her husband Seth moved to Whittier in February 2002. They have 2 kids, Both Manual graduates. Layla graduated in 2022 and Naomi in 2025. Allison fell in love with Manual as a board member of the Whittier Neighborhood Association (WNA) and over the years has developed deep relationships with students and teachers alike. Allison helped fundraise to send 20 kids from the Performing Arts Dept to New York in the Spring of 2022 and was honored to be invited to attend the trip as a parent chaperone. It was a life changing trip for everyone in attendance! You will often find her tucked in the seats of the Joyce Davis Auditorium watching auditions or rehearsals for the various performances Manual so masterfully puts on or cheering any and every sport from the Manual bleachers. 

​Allison has an undergraduate degree in Human Services from Lesley University and a Masters in Public Health and Social Work from Boston University. She left the field of public health to start a career in real estate in 2013 and never looked back!

Class of 2017

After graduating from Manual High School, Isabelle continued her education at Colorado State University earning a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Media Communications and stayed there for graduate school earning a masters degree in Communications and Media Management. Isabelle has been heavily involved with the community at Manual. She has been connected since her graduation coming back for the yearly winter showcase and the spring musicals. She even worked there for a year in 2021. 
 
In her professional career, Isabelle has always been involved in social justice and giving a voice to underrepresented communities through her writing. She has worked at organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union participating in the fight for civil rights and civil liberties for all.

HISTORIAN EMERITUS
Class of 1957

A retired DPS social science teacher born and raised in Denver, Jim is a person steeped in the lore of his home town, especially Manual High School. As a local historian, he compiled a book in 2000 for Charlie "Bronco" Goldberg titled: Broncos: How Sweet It Is! He holds MA degrees in History (1970) and Educational Media (1975) from the University of Northern Colorado. While a teacher of US history for over 25 years, he always emphasized the importance of Denver, Manual, and minorities in the narrative of our country. His second book is titled: Denver's Manual High School- 1876 Bricklayers to Thunderbolts 2016.