Susana Cordova, former Denver superintendent, named finalist for Colorado education commissioner

Previous Denver Community Educational institutions Superintendent Susana Cordova is the sole finalist to be Colorado’s next education commissioner.

The State Board of Education and learning voted unanimously to identify Cordova their most well-liked applicant at a brief assembly Tuesday morning. By law, the Condition Board must wait at the very least 14 times right before voting to hire Cordova. The up coming scheduled board meeting is June 14. 

“Her considerable expertise doing work in universities and districts together with her considerate and caring tactic to addressing the problems struggling with learners and educators will be a tremendous asset to the condition of Colorado,” Board Chair Rebecca McClellan mentioned. 

Training Commissioner Katy Anthes introduced in December that she would be stepping down in July. The State Board employed the research agency McPherson and Jacobson to help locate a alternative. The board been given 23 apps and interviewed 6 candidates — four ladies and two adult men — in shut-door meetings Wednesday and Thursday. 

The board discussed candidates in shut session for extra than 4 hrs on Friday in advance of adjourning without a vote. The board reconvened for about 30 minutes Tuesday before saying Cordova would be the only finalist. 

Cordova was a job Denver educator, operating as a bilingual instructor and principal in advance of growing to lead the district the place she was after a scholar herself. Her tenure bundled a instructors strike, a political sea alter on the school board, and COVID-associated faculty closures. She worked tough to uncover common ground and win around critics.

Cordova announced in November 2020 that she was leaving Denver to consider a career as deputy superintendent of top and understanding in the Dallas Impartial University District. Although Cordova stated she was leaving Denver to pursue an exciting chance, lots of in the neighborhood blamed dysfunction on the Denver school board for driving her absent. 

Cordova remaining the Dallas district in August immediately after one more prospect, Stephanie Elizalde, was picked to replace retiring superintendent Michael Hinojosa. Since then, Cordova has been the superintendent in residence for the education and learning nonprofit Transcend. 

McClellan claimed the Point out Board was on the lookout for a candidate with a historical past of main by case in point and closing gaps in between university student groups, another person with excellent people today expertise who would stand for a constructive graphic for the department. 

Gov. Jared Polis praised the choice in a press launch and claimed he appears to be ahead to performing with Cordova.

“We are thrilled to welcome Susana Cordova as Colorado’s next Commissioner of Training,” he reported. “Her prior get the job done boosting tutorial progress and improving obtain to higher-high-quality training for learners of all backgrounds as Superintendent of Denver Community Educational institutions is positive to gain college students across the point out as she brings this passion and encounter to this new function.”

In contrast to other states where the schooling commissioner is appointed by the governor, Colorado’s training commissioner is employed by the independently elected Condition Board of Instruction. 

Anthes, the departing commissioner, has led the section considering that May 2016. All through her tenure, Colorado carried out a university accountability method that will allow state intervention in struggling university districts, adopted new tutorial expectations, and stepped up attempts to increase examining instruction in the early grades and occupation mastering prospects for high faculty college students. 

The following commissioner will provide a much larger nine-member board with an expanded Democratic bulk, some of whom are extra skeptical of the accountability technique and condition intervention in faculty districts. 

The next commissioner will also have to deal with ongoing pandemic restoration, endeavours to make improvements to math and looking through instruction, trainer shortages, and the challenges that occur with declining enrollment in numerous parts of the point out.

This is a acquiring story and will be current.

Bureau Main Erica Meltzer covers education coverage and politics and oversees Chalkbeat Colorado’s training coverage. Make contact with Erica at [email protected].