Susana Cordova is the right person to be the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools.
After a thorough national search, informed by extensive and broad community input, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education announced last month a sole finalist for the position of superintendent: Susana Cordova. We applaud the DPS board members for their wise decision.
Ms. Cordova is uniquely wellsituated, working in partnership with the DPS board, to move the district forward to greater and more inclusive success for our students. Already recognized as a national leader in public education, Susana also brings deep roots in the community and an unparalleled breadth of knowledge of the DPS system. She is a homegrown talent who would be a top choice for any large school district in the nation.
Susana understands the challenges that so many of our students at DPS face, because she faced those challenges herself. Susana’s life experiences reflect the power of education. She grew up in a low-income family, the child of Mexican-American parents. Neither of her parents went to college, only one graduated from high school. She has experienced the barriers that too many of our students face due to race, ethnicity or income. “This has colored my life experience,” Susana has said. “It’s what motivates me, drives me to do the work I do.” She is a gifted and passionate champion of academic achievement and equity.
Susana values our teachers and appreciates the challenges they face, because she has been there, in the classroom. She knows firsthand the frustrations, joys and difficulties; and understands the expertise and relentless work it takes to be a successful educator.
As a DPS parent, Susana deeply appreciates the fears, hopes and aspirations that parents face every day as their child goes off to school. Susana values our DPS parents and families and shares their experience.
Susana has worked to raise the level of achievement of students of color and low-income students, while also keeping a clear focus on continued progress. She has articulated a strong vision that includes closing the achievement and opportunity investing in our teachers and schools, and establishing authentic community engagement. “Our kids have excellence in them,” Susana said recently, “and it’s our job as a district to bring that excellence out.”
Susana has earned broad support of an engaged community because she combines her record of accomplishment with four qualities of a great leader – she is a superb listener, she has the capacity to inspire others, she offers a passionate vision, and she possesses a deep and informed understanding of how to achieve that vision.
Susana’s two-decade career in education is a testament to the critical importance of authentic, effective and collaborative leadership. As Education Week, a national K-12 education journal, reported when they honored Susana: “She began as a bilingual language arts teacher and rose through the ranks to become the first Latina to hold the No. 2 job in the 92,000-student district. Cordova’s unwavering commitment to equity is apparent in her track record.”
Across all segments of our community, people understandably feel deeply invested in and have strong and heartfelt opinions about public education. Criticism is a constant companion for any superintendent. This is another notable qualification of Susana’s. She has repeatedly demonstrated the capacity to embrace and be informed by even critical input. She is not defensive about it. Whether you agree or disagree with her decision on any particular issue — and good-faith differences are inevitable — you will know with Susana that you have been listened to, that you have been heard, that your opinion matters and your insights and perspective are respected.
At this time in DPS’ history of great promise but also great challenge, our students deserve to have a compassionate, experienced, effective, collaborative and tireless leader as superintendent.
Susana Cordova is that leader.