Susana Cordova named finalist for Colorado training commissioner

Former Denver Public Colleges Superintendent Susana Cordova is the only finalist to be Colorado’s subsequent training commissioner.

The State Board of Schooling voted unanimously to call Cordova their most well-liked candidate at a short assembly Tuesday morning. By legislation, the State Board should wait at the very least 14 days earlier than voting to rent Cordova. The following scheduled board assembly is June 14. 

“Her intensive expertise working in colleges and districts alongside together with her considerate and caring strategy to addressing the problems dealing with college students and educators will probably be an amazing asset to the state of Colorado,” board Chair Rebecca McClellan mentioned. 

The choice of Cordova drew reward from training advocates throughout the political spectrum. Teams that characterize superintendents and educators mentioned they recognize that Cordova would carry a wealth of classroom and district expertise to the job. Teams that favor training reform mentioned they recognize that she labored for the Denver district throughout a time when that district had its personal faculty accountability system and embraced faculty selection and charters. 

“This was a superb selection for Colorado significantly at this second in time,” mentioned Van Schoales, senior coverage director on the Keystone Coverage Middle. “Susana has a exceptional background, having been a profitable trainer, faculty chief, district chief, and she or he is aware of the way to drive scholar achievement, significantly for low-income youngsters and English learners.” 

Schooling Commissioner Katy Anthes introduced in December that she can be stepping down in July. The State Board employed the search agency McPherson and Jacobson to assist discover a substitute. The board acquired 23 purposes. It interviewed six candidates — 4 ladies and two males — in closed-door conferences Wednesday and Thursday. 

The board mentioned candidates in closed session for greater than 4 hours on Friday earlier than adjourning with no vote. The board reconvened for about half-hour Tuesday earlier than asserting Cordova can be the one finalist. 

Cordova was a profession Denver educator, working as a bilingual trainer and principal earlier than rising to lead the district the place she was as soon as a scholar herself. Her tenure included a lecturers strike, a political sea change on the college board, and COVID-related faculty closures. She labored laborious to search out widespread floor and win over critics.

Cordova introduced in November 2020 that she was leaving Denver to take a job as deputy superintendent of main and studying within the Dallas Impartial Faculty District. Although Cordova mentioned she was leaving Denver to pursue an thrilling alternative, many in the neighborhood blamed dysfunction on the Denver faculty board for driving her away. 

Cordova left the Dallas district in August after one other candidate, Stephanie Elizalde, was chosen to exchange retiring Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. Since then, Cordova has been the superintendent in residence for the training nonprofit Transcend. 

McClellan mentioned the State Board was on the lookout for a candidate with a historical past of main by instance and closing gaps between scholar teams, somebody with good individuals expertise who would characterize a optimistic picture for the division. 

Not like different states the place the training commissioner is appointed by the governor or elected, Colorado’s training commissioner is employed by the independently elected State Board of Schooling. 

Anthes, the departing commissioner, has led the division since Could 2016 and. Throughout her tenure, Colorado applied a college accountability system that permits state intervention in struggling faculty districts, adopted new educational requirements, and stepped up efforts to enhance studying instruction within the early grades and profession studying alternatives for highschool college students. 

“The Colorado commissioner is considerably distinctive in that the ability the commissioner has is proscribed due to native management,” Schoales mentioned. “It requires a mix of carrots and sticks, and the commissioner must be very considerate and suave to carry individuals alongside.” 

The following commissioner will serve a bigger nine-member board with an expanded Democratic majority, a few of whom are extra skeptical of the accountability system and state intervention at school districts. 

“We’ve got a divided State Board and a bigger State Board,” mentioned Brenda Dickhoner, president and CEO of the conservative training group Prepared Colorado. “The commissioner performs a job in taking all of the totally different alerts from the State Board and synthesizing these and transmitting these to varsities and districts and households.”

The following commissioner should take care of ongoing pandemic restoration, efforts to enhance math and studying instruction, trainer shortages, and the challenges that include declining enrollment in lots of components of the state. 

Colorado is also about to convene a process pressure that can advocate modifications to the accountability system — a course of welcomed by many training advocacy teams however one that can pressure tough conversations.

Bret Miles, government director of the Colorado Affiliation of Faculty Executives, mentioned his membership’s prime precedence was having as commissioner “somebody who knew the day-to-day struggles as a lot because the coverage.” Each legislation and coverage must be became guidelines that superintendents, principals, and lecturers can put into motion, Miles mentioned, and Cordova’s background means she is well-positioned to strategy these selections with care.

Dickhoner mentioned she was glad to see a finalist who understands “how selection is a part of our training ecosystem” and brings expertise working in Denver Public Colleges when that district was thought of a nationwide mannequin for training reform.

“Her monitor report in DPS, demonstrating that she’s been in a position to work with households who attend colleges of selection, that she labored in a system that valued accountability and excessive expectations for all colleges, no matter the place you fall on the precise coverage suggestions, having that familiarity will profit her and Colorado,” Dickhoner mentioned.

Jen Walmer, state director of Democrats for Schooling Reform, was chief of workers in Denver when Cordova was chief educational officer.

“She was essentially the most constant, even member of the management group,” Walmer mentioned. “She is all the time targeted on the work, student-focused. She listens earlier than she speaks. She has a capability to construct bridges and produce individuals collectively, and I believe that’s precisely what Colorado wants.” 

Amie Baca-Oehlert, president of the Colorado Schooling Affiliation, the state lecturers union, mentioned she is hopeful that Cordova’s background as a classroom trainer will lead her to carry up and middle educator views on the way to remedy long-standing training issues.

Cynthia Trinidad-Sheahan, government director of the Colorado Affiliation of Bilingual Educators, mentioned she was “thrilled” with Cordova’s choice and hopes that Cordova promotes biliteracy, bilingual training, and numerous and inclusive approaches. 

“Our youngsters needn’t simply her management, however her advocacy as nicely,” she wrote in an e-mail.

Gov. Jared Polis praised the selection in a press launch and mentioned he seems ahead to working with Cordova.

“Her prior work boosting educational progress and enhancing entry to high-quality training for learners of all backgrounds as Superintendent of Denver Public Colleges is bound to profit college students throughout the state as she brings this ardour and expertise to this new position,” he mentioned.

This story has been up to date all through with further feedback and interviews.

Bureau Chief Erica Meltzer covers training coverage and politics and oversees Chalkbeat Colorado’s training protection. Contact Erica at emeltzer@chalkbeat.org.