Denver school board approves Marrero's performance review
Superintendent Alex Marrero met 88.4% of his district goals, a marked improvement over the previous year.
By Jillian Foster ·
The Denver Public Schools Board of Education approved Superintendent Alex Marrero's annual evaluation on Monday.
Marrero met 88.4% of his set goals for the 2025-26 academic year. This figure is up from 74% in the previous year. The board considers a superintendent to have met his goals if he achieves at least 75% of the required criteria.
Board President Xóchitl Gaytán stated the board remains fully committed to supporting Marrero. The directors presented a united front during the public meeting. They said they are focused on collaborating with the superintendent going forward. Board member Amy Klein Molk described the process as a wonderful collaborative experience.
The board spent about three hours in executive session before voting on the evaluation. All five directors present voted in favor of the approval. Director John Youngquist was absent from the meeting.
The evaluation noted that DPS received an Accredited rating from the Colorado Department of Education for the second consecutive year. This is the top rating on the state’s academic framework. However, the board recorded that Marrero did not meet the goals for English language arts proficiency among students of color and children living in poverty.
Director Kimberlee Sia said she was not ready to have a conversation about how the superintendent will accomplish new goals. The board postponed that discussion until a later date. Sia added that she appreciates Marrero's willingness to talk about reaching district goals more quickly.
Board member Monica Hunter reiterated her push for better academic outcomes for students of color. She said DPS needs to really prioritize funding for these students to close learning gaps. The approval comes after months of tension among DPS leaders. Earlier this year, Marrero accused directors of overstepping by interfering with day-to-day operations. Directors also raised concerns about his commitment after he applied to lead Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida.
Source: The Denver Post · original report published
