Three longtime educators and a software executive with extensive military training are vying to lead Aurora Public Schools, the state’s sixth largest district, with 31,100 students.
The urban district, which has struggled for years with low student performance on state reading, math, science and writing exams, could name a new leader as early as June 6, said Matthew Cook, president of the board of education.
The four candidates are Sonia Diaz, a former deputy superintendent in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida; John Barry, vice president for defense and security for a Washington, D.C., software company who was part of an independent investigation of the Columbia space shuttle disaster; David Barbosa, superintendent of the Grand Prairie Independent School District in Texas; and Anthony Amato, who resigned as superintendent from the New Orleans public school district a year ago.
The new superintendent, who would replace the retiring Robert Adams, would oversee a $377 million budget and a student body that is more than 70 percent minority and nearly 50 percent low-income.
The minimum salary is $100,000, said Georgia Duran, district spokesperson.
Today, the four candidates will participate in formal meetings with community groups.
Salvador Barela, a 68-year-old grandfather who plans to participate in today’s forums, said he wants to see a leader who will support immigrant students, and reduce the drop-out rate by creating “an environment in which the students feel welcome.”
Part of the reason students drop out, he said, is each thinks “I really don’t feel like the school wants me,” he said.
Leanne Wheeler, adviser to the Aurora Youth Commission, a group of roughly 20 youth and five adults who serve as advisers to city officials, said she wants to see a superintendent with clear plans for producing educated students, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds.
“If you can get an individual in with a vision and (the ability to) identify a strategy and get everybody on court, that’s a person you want,” Wheeler said.
Matthew Cook, school board president, wants to see someone who can build working relationships with parents, teachers, staff and members of the community, as well as create a district where students grow academically.
But Cook said he is not looking for someone who is only focused on the Colorado Student Assessment Program, the state exam that measures student performance in reading, math, science and writing.
“The board and myself feel that CSAP is just a small snapshot of what is going on (in schools),” he said. “We’re not bringing anyone who is (just) coming in to drive up test scores,” he said.
Staff writer Karen Rouse can be reached at 303-820-1684 or at krouse@denverpost.com.
