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Superintendent Alex Marrero stated in a press release Friday that he doesn’t intend to depart Denver Public Faculties after the Chicago Solar-Instances reported that he’s one in every of two finalists for the job of Chicago Public Faculties’ subsequent CEO.
“Whereas I’ve nice respect for Chicago Public Faculties and recognize the skilled recognition implied by current hypothesis about my potential candidacy for superintendent, I wish to be clear that my dedication stays firmly with Denver Public Faculties the place I’m proud to proceed serving as superintendent,” Marrero stated.
One finalist for the Chicago job is Meisha Ross Porter, who led New York Metropolis Public Faculties in 2021, three sources with direct information of the state of affairs instructed Chalkbeat.
Finalists are set to interview with Chicago Board of Training members, a group panel, and the mayor subsequent week. Chicago’s choice will mark the primary time its new 21-member college board chooses a brand new chief for the nation’s fourth largest college district.
Earlier on Friday, Denver Public Faculties despatched a press release saying Marrero “has no plans to depart the district.” The assertion stated he was attending the World Cities Symposium in Asia “and can be extending his journey for a short, however nicely deserved trip previous to returning to Denver.”
Marrero is worked up to work with the newly elected Denver college board members, the sooner assertion stated. Three candidates backed by the academics union had been elected Tuesday to the seven-member board.
Marrero has been superintendent of the 89,000-student Denver Public Faculties since 2021. Commencement charges have risen in his four-year tenure, and the district’s state ranking jumped this yr to “inexperienced,” the second highest, for the primary time since 2019, earlier than the pandemic.
However issues about college security and a string of shootings in and round Denver’s largest highschool have sown discontent amongst some mother and father. Unpopular college closures and cuts to the central workplace have harm morale amongst district workers, in accordance with Marrero’s newest efficiency analysis.
Earlier than coming to Denver, Marrero was the interim superintendent of a a lot smaller district in New Rochelle, New York. He was beforehand the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in New Rochelle and an assistant superintendent in East Ramapo, New York.
Marrero started his profession within the nation’s greatest college district, New York Metropolis, the place he served as a steerage counselor, assistant principal, and principal. It’s additionally the place he attended college as a baby rising up within the Bronx.
Marrero identifies as Afro Latino and is bilingual. Greater than half of the scholars in Denver are Latino and a few third are studying English as a second language.
Marrero’s contract with Denver Public Faculties runs by way of 2028. The board has prolonged it twice, most just lately in Might, which was 5 months earlier than his newest efficiency analysis in October. The board additionally voted in 2023 to give Marrero a elevate. His wage this yr is $346,529.
Marrero is the president of the Affiliation of Latino Directors and Superintendents and serves on the chief committee of the Council of Nice Metropolis Faculties.
Melanie Asmar is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Colorado. Contact Melanie at masmar@chalkbeat.org.
