Susana Cordova’s first year as superintendent of Denver schools was marked by what one observer called a “torrent of change.” A month after she took office last January, the Denver teachers union went on strike for the first time in a quarter-century.
To pay for the raises teachers won, Cordova in March slashed more than 200 positions from the districtap central office. And a historic election in November delivered her a new boss: a school board controlled for the first time by union-backed members.
Cordova, 53, weathered the changes. Her style, which combines deep listening with a disarming yearn for collaboration, was viewed by many as a refreshing change from years past.
“I feel like our lines of communication are very open,” said Tiffany Choi, president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, which historically had a contentious relationship with the district.
But when it comes to whether Cordova is leading the district in a better direction, many supporters and critics alike are taking a wait-and-see approach. With 93,000 students and more than 10,000 full-time employees, Denver Public Schools is, proverbially, a big ship to turn.
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