Nov. 30, 2018
Board of Education Moves Forward Susana Cordova as Finalist for DPS Superintendent
Following a national search that began in August, Denver Board of Education members this week moved forward a finalist for the next leader of our school district.
 
Susana Cordova is currently the district's deputy superintendent and a nationally recognized leader. She is a DPS graduate who has spent her career in DPS classrooms as a bilingual secondary teacher, principal of a high-needs elementary school and administrator whose responsibilities now include direct supervision of all 165 district-run schools and an annual budget of more than $130 million. Susana says she is committed to ensuring all students have caring, knowledgeable adults to support them as she was supported growing up in DPS. Her focus on equity has led to the transformation of services for students learning English and improved literacy rates for young learners across DPS. She is an extraordinary and accomplished educational leader. Read Susana's full bio, cover letter and resume at supersearch.dpsk12.org.
 
The Board of Education sought to present multiple finalists and was on track to do so. However, prior to the selection of finalists, the only other candidates who matched the qualifications of Susana withdrew from consideration. The Board of Education voted 5-2 (Board Members Carrie Olson and Jennifer Bacon opposing) on a resolution to move forward with the process, believing it to be thorough, exhaustive and conducted with high integrity.  
 
On Dec. 5, DPS will livestream a Student Board of Education meeting where student leaders will have the opportunity to ask the deputy superintendent about her vision and priorities. Additional details about the period of engagement with our students, families, educators and community members are coming soon. These public interviews will be a necessary component of the Board's decision-making process and will inform their final decision on Dec. 17. Read the Board of Education's letter to the community here and watch for updates on public engagement opportunities here.

Pictured above: Deputy Superintendent Susana Cordova visited students at Fairview Elementary on their first day of school.
¡Somos DPS!: Marie L. Greenwood Turns 106
 
Marie L. Greenwood has lived an incredible and consequential life. She made history in 1938 as the first African-American teacher in Denver to receive tenure. In 1955, she made history again when she became the first African-American teacher to teach at an all-white school.  
 
Throughout her career and life, she has continued to hold true to the belief that every child can learn, something echoed within DPS' vision: Every Child Succeeds.
 
As Ms. Greenwood turns 106 this month, celebrate with us by watching this special Somos DPS video celebrating her remarkable story.
Resolution Recognizing and Celebrating our Transgender Community
At the Nov. 15 Board of Education meeting, students from North High School asked the board to pass a resolution recognizing and celebrating our transgender community, including our students, employees, families and community members. The students shared their experiences and hopes that DPS would recognize the rights of these individuals, who are at a higher risk for suicide, bullying and harassment. 
 
Board of Education member Jennifer Bacon affirmed that the district is committed to building, developing and supporting DPS to be a safe and welcoming environment for all students. "We believe in our students and we will meet them where they're at," Jennifer said. The Board voted unanimously to pass the motion. 
Bear Valley STEM Students Join Engineers for Mars Landing
On Monday, students from Bear Valley International School visited Lockheed Martin to watch the InSight spacecraft landing. 
Did your school's career day feature "seven minutes of terror" in outer space? For Bear Valley International School (BVIS) students in the DPS CareerConnect program, career exploration took them straight to Mars. Students had front-row seats to watch the InSight spacecraft landing, alongside the engineers who designed, built and tested it at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colorado. 
 
As part of the DPS CareerConnect program -- in which students take skills learned in the classroom and apply them during on-the-job shadowing, internships and apprenticeship opportunities -- sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students from BVIS also had the opportunity to participate in interactive science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) exhibits and share lunch with mentors who matched their career interests.

Click here to read the full article.
2016 Bond Update: George Washington High School Renovations
 
The campus at George Washington High School has undergone several major improvements thanks to Focused Investments in the 2016 DPS Bond.  
 
Students, parents and educators worked with DPS and a local architect to identify projects -- including a redesigned library -- that would not only beautify the school but also improve the learning environment.
 
"It fits the needs of today's learners," said speech and debate teacher Maryrose Cohan.
 
Visit bond.dpsk12.org to learn more about how the Denver community's $572 million investment is impacting schools in neighborhoods across the city. 
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