Commissioner of Education
Colorado Department of Education
Susana Córdova was named Colorado’s 18th education commissioner and the first Latina to hold the state’s top education position in June 2023. Prior to being named commissioner, Córdova spent more than 30 years in education. She served as an assistant principal, principal, director, chief academic officer, chief schools officer, and deputy superintendent before becoming the superintendent of Denver Public Schools (DPS). She also served as deputy superintendent in Dallas ISD, the second-largest district in Texas.
Córdova grew up in Denver and was a student in the district she later went on to lead. Among her priorities as superintendent was to “break the historical patterns of inequity that have resulted in far too few black, brown, and low-income children succeeding at high levels.”
As the DPS superintendent, Susana led significant improvements in student outcomes, including an 8% increase in graduation rates for African American Students and a 10% improvement in Latino/a student graduation rates. In 2020, under her leadership, students completed more than 31,000 rigorous courses with a passing rate of 89%, and elementary multilingual students outperformed their peers across the state in reading.
Córdova served as deputy superintendent for Dallas Independent School District from January 2021 to August 2022. Following that role, she was superintendent in residence for the educational nonprofit Transcend, leading their work to support systems leaders who are dedicated to creating innovative schools that provide equitable and exceptional learning experiences and outcomes.
OPENING KEYNOTE Starting Strong: Improving Student Outcomes through Focused Educator Preparation
Friday, February 16, 2024
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM MST