Mascareñaz: Why Susana Cordova Is the Right Pick to Lead Denver’s Schools Into the Next Chapter
The Denver Public Schools school board has announced that Deputy Superintendent Susana Cordova is the sole finalist for the position of leading the top urban district. The board selected Cordova after thoroughly reviewing nearly 50 applications and narrowing it down to three candidates, with the others withdrawing from the race. The board will now seek community input and make a final decision within the next two weeks.
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Cordova. Before discussing her qualifications, it is important to reflect on the process itself.
The Denver School Board was seeking significant change while also maintaining progress. They wanted both a national search and consideration for internal and local candidates. They aimed for community feedback and simultaneously wanted their role as an elected body to be respected.
To ensure comprehensive community engagement, the board enlisted an external agency to conduct independent analysis and involvement. Although done with good intentions, it raised expectations substantially, leading to the anticipation of substantial dialogue during the second phase with the finalists.
Therefore, when it was announced that there would be no announcement of finalists on Monday, many were surprised but not entirely shocked. The district and board did not provide a reason for the delay, which was not reassuring. It would have been more helpful if they had said, "We are finalizing all candidate matters and the forthcoming engagement process" or "We want to ensure we make the right decision, and there are still some final details to address."
Creating suspense for months and then maintaining complete silence within the community, without notifying stakeholders in advance, was unsettling. However, the board broke this silence on Thursday by revealing Cordova as the sole finalist.
Throughout the superintendent search, the community desired an educator, a person of color, and someone with extensive knowledge of Denver communities. Cordova clearly stood out from the beginning due to her talents and experience.
It is essential to emphasize that because of her qualifications, she would be a finalist and the top choice in any major school district or state education system across the nation.
However, in a world where democracy and liberal institutions face criticism, opponents of the district could question the process, claiming it was rigged by asking, "Won’t they just select Cordova anyway? So why go through a manipulated process?"
Essentially, this critique boils down to: "If a qualified individual I dislike wins, it must have been rigged." It is a flawed argument, but unfortunately, it resonates in our polarized political climate.
Yet, despite taking every measure possible to avoid sabotage, the board unintentionally sabotaged itself. The board conducted a national search, hired a search firm, and engaged the community, but ultimately ended up with only one finalist. Even though this finalist is highly qualified, the board inadvertently gave its critics the ammunition they needed in our politically charged environment. Nonetheless, the process still yielded a favorable outcome despite these challenges.
None of this is Cordova’s fault. Blaming the job candidate for the search process requires unfounded conspiratorial thinking. Cordova applied and interviewed in good faith, and she has openly expressed her aspirations to lead the district. She is not accountable for the expectations set for the community during the process, but she can now work towards addressing them.
Many individuals, including myself, will be rooting for Susana Cordova to become the next superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Few individuals possess her natural talents and abilities in public spaces. Her roles as a teacher, school leader, and central office administrator have contributed significantly to the district’s improvement over the past decade.
She meaningfully engages with communities and families in authentic ways, showing her thoughtful approach. I have witnessed her speak sincerely and empathetically to diverse audiences numerous times, and I believe her skill in this area is unparalleled. I have also seen her in action during meetings, crisis situations, and her dedicated efforts to creatively solve the district’s problems. In my opinion, her leadership is precisely what Denver needs at this moment.
Most of the criticism towards Cordova stems from her role as Deputy Superintendent under Boasberg. There were individuals, both supportive and opposed to the district, who desired a significant departure from the status quo and consider her to be a continuation of the current system. The irony is that those who know her personally or professionally understand that she is anything but a replica of Boasberg in terms of identity, life experience, philosophy, and relationship-building approach. If anything, she represents his complete opposite.
She bears the personal responsibility of ensuring that English language development is prioritized in DPS schools. She has been instrumental in implementing a district-led and community-driven approach to school design, which has proven successful throughout the district. She has also been supportive of collaboration between district, innovation, and charter schools. Over the course of several decades, she has fostered strong relationships with various organizations across the city. In the current moment, she embodies the qualities we need — a focus on listening, fostering partnerships, and minimizing confrontation.
Some of her opposition comes from the education reform community. However, unlike many of these critics who advocate for change from a distance, she has firsthand experience with the schools she has been tasked to transform. In fact, she has either attended or has family and friends who attended these schools, which has allowed her to engage in challenging conversations about change management.
How many of these self-proclaimed reformers have engaged in difficult community conversations in the very schools they once attended? How many have had candid discussions with their cousins and family friends about how the district is failing to serve their school and community, or about the imperfect options moving forward? This is not a criticism of Cordova, but rather a testament to her bravery and willingness to engage with the public.
Admittedly, her brief stint as interim superintendent may have been uneven. However, it is important to note that an interim leader never has the same level of freedom and ownership as someone in a permanent role. Those who have spent time with her can attest to her self-reflective and honest nature. She takes responsibility for her mistakes and is committed to learning from them. This is the type of leader I believe in.
Some opponents of the current district leadership may oppose her appointment due to her involvement in controversial decisions in the past. However, anyone familiar with Cordova knows that this is an unfounded claim. She is deeply rooted in our communities, having worked in them for many years. She has dedicated more time than anyone else in the city to acquiring comprehensive knowledge about each and every school in DPS. Furthermore, she has voiced her disagreement with certain decisions made over the past decade. It is not as black and white as critics on the sidelines make it out to be.
Others claim that they personally do not have an issue with her, but insist that the entire African-American community does. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that they are generalizing a small but vocal opposition to Cordova as representative of the entire community. This is a fallacious and racist argument. Just because some people hold a certain belief, it does not mean that everyone in that group shares that belief. While Cordova does have critics within the community (as any public figure does), an independent survey of DPS families reveals that 59 percent of African-American respondents believe that the district is moving in the right direction.
As we engage in this debate in Denver over the next few weeks, it is important for the education community to firmly reject any attacks or demeaning comments towards a qualified woman of color. Disagree with her policies, but bullying her on social media or undermining her achievements is unacceptable. Unfortunately, there are too many individuals on the social justice left who are content to witness this behavior, which is disgraceful. As we move forward, people from all perspectives should call out instances of casual racism and sexism in discussions about Cordova and refocus the conversation on substantive matters.
Cordova has garnered support from a diverse range of individuals, including a significant number of school leaders within the district. She has also received the endorsement of 5 out of 7 elected representatives on the Denver school board. Additionally, many community members and education leaders, including myself, support her. This is undoubtedly Cordova’s moment. She has spent her entire life working towards this opportunity, and it is in all our best interests to wish her success, as her success translates to success for our children.
I firmly believe that she is the leader we need in these uncertain times. I still hold the belief that a message of progress and hope resonates with people, and I now see her as the messenger of that message. Due to her close observation of the past decade, she has firsthand knowledge of what has worked and what hasn’t. She is a firm believer in the vision of excellent schools, regardless of their governance structure. As an educator and a woman of color who has reclaimed her family’s language after it was taken away by the school system, she serves as an incredible role model for our children. In my experience, she is receptive, eager to learn, and adaptable.
Undoubtedly, the DPS board faces challenges in terms of their operation and collaboration. There are deep divisions within the board in terms of generational differences, outlooks, and experiences. Who better to bridge these divides than someone who knows the board members personally and is known for being a good listener? Who better to bring people together than someone who has fostered a shared vision for classrooms, schools, and over 100 educational institutions?
We must remain focused on the tasks at hand: Only 42 percent of our students in grades three through eight are reading at the expected level. This is unacceptable and demands immediate action. Our district is overwhelmed with conflicting priorities and necessitates a fresh approach. The new leader of the district will face the challenges of a significant staff departure and decreasing enrollment. Difficult times lie ahead.
As we enter the winter of 2018, the school board elections scheduled for the fall of 2019 are looming. We are confronted with significant disparities among all student groups. Our communities yearn for a listener who can rebuild trust. We need a leader who is familiar with the workings of our education system and possesses a profound understanding of the strengths of our city. We require an individual with a genuine passion and proven dedication to communities of color. It is important that this leader values the thoughts of community groups and educators. In these uncertain times, we do not seek an untested leader or someone new to our city. Rather, we need a collaborator, not a confrontational figure.
This is Cordova’s moment to guide the next phase of Denver Public Schools. The question remains: What will come next?
Landon Mascareñaz currently serves as the senior partner for advocacy and alliances at the education advocacy group A+ Colorado. Previously, he held the position of executive director of strategy development and family empowerment at Denver Public Schools.
Receive stories like these directly in your inbox. Join Newsletter now.
