WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) is proud to announce the final selection for Cohort VII of the Superintendents Leadership Academy. This leadership and networking program runs July 2017 through June 2018.

The Superintendents Leadership Academy (SLA) is designed to prepare the next generation of Latino education leaders for the role of school superintendent across the U.S. With a rigorous application and interview process, fifteen outstanding educators emerged from across the nation and were selected to engage in the year-long leadership opportunity. Since its inception in 2009, more than 80 school leaders have graduated from the SLA, with many serving as school superintendents within their communities.

“The Superintendents Leadership Academy is one of the many ways ALAS works to cultivate leaders who represent the needs of Latino-serving districts,” ALAS Executive Director Dr. Nancy Lewin said. “Given the continuing increase of Hispanic student demographics across the country, a critical need exists to prepare a new generation of Hispanic school leaders to more accurately reflect the increasingly diverse student populations in which they serve.”

Participants were selected for the program based on their proven record of leadership and dedication to raising the level of achievement for students of color and for English Language Learners. The program also evaluates their demonstrated efforts to serve the needs of children and their families.

The year-long program will cover Curriculum & Instruction/Assessment; Equity Leadership & Community Engagement; Governance & Strategic Planning; Leadership & Preparing to Become a Superintendent; Management Systems & Structures; and Government Relations. Experienced superintendents and other educational professionals will share their expertise at the sessions.

The program participants represent 11 different states. They are:

Viviana Conner
World Language Coordinator
Greenwich Public Schools
Greenwich, CT

Claudio Coria
Executive Director of Leadership
Phoenix Union High School District
Phoenix, AZ

Boris Costa-Guerra
Principal
Sante Fe Public Schools
Sante Fe, NM

Lora De La Cruz
Principal
Boulder Valley School District
Boulder, CO

Ivette Dubiel
Director of Educational Equity
Indian Prairie School District 204
Aurora, IL

Jose Enriquez
Executive Director of Latinos in Action
Former Director Title III UTAH Office of Edu. ED of Latinos in Action
Sandy, UT

Renato Lajara
Principal
School District of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA

Stephen Linkous
Principal
Houston Independent School District
Houston, TX

Lazaro Lopez
Associate Superintendent
High School District 214
Arlington Heights, IL

Marcos Murillo
Area Superintendent
Hillsborough County School District
Tampa, FL

Jesus Rodriguez
Principal
Denver Public Schools
Denver, CO

Jacqueline Rosado
Director of School Renewal
NYC Department of Education Community School District 32
Brooklyn, NY

Kristina Davis Salazar
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
West Chicago D33
West Chicago, IL

Victoria Saldala
Director, Bilingual / ESOL Department
Broward County Public Schools
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Rosa Cabrera-Thompson
Principal
Kent School District
Kent, WA

ALAS partner ACT, dedicated to helping people achieve education and workplace success, has generously sponsored the Superintendents Leadership Academy since 2011.