AASA and National PTA Honor Superintendent with Inaugural "Excellence in Family Engagement Award"
January 28, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alexandria, Va. – (January 28, 2025) – AASA, The School Superintendents Association and National PTA are pleased to celebrate excellence in family engagement by honoring a leader dedicated to family-school partnerships.
Alex Marrero, superintendent of Denver Public Schools, has been selected among district leaders across the country to receive the inaugural Excellence in Family Engagement Award, in addition to $5,000 to support family engagement initiatives. Candidates for the award were judged on their commitment to equity, transformative engagement, capacity-building and results.
Marrero has implemented best practices and integrated family engagement across strategic plans, budgets, and district infrastructure. He also continually demonstrates a commitment to equitable student outcomes and encourages other school system leaders to contribute to national efforts to sustain public and private funding for family-school partnerships.
Dave Schuler, AASA’s executive director said, "This award honors Alex Marrero’s impressive dedication to authentic family engagement and reflects his vision, persistence,
strong convictions, and sense of equity and excellence. We congratulate him for his many achievements and look forward to seeing the positive impact he makes on the students and families he serves continue to grow."
Yvonne Johnson, National PTA president said, "Decades of research shows family engagement is critical to student success and school improvement efforts, and Alex Marrero is dedicated to improving student outcomes by investing in family-school partnerships. We are thrilled to join AASA in honoring Dr. Marrero with the inaugural Excellence in Family Engagement Award."
Marrero will be recognized with the Excellence in Family Education Award during AASA’s 2025 National Conference on Education, on March 6 in New Orleans. The award was made possible by funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York and Overdeck Family Foundation.
About the Winner:
Alex Marrero has served as the superintendent of Denver Public Schools since Spring 2021. He oversees Colorado's largest school district with more than 90,000 students and 15,000 staff across over 200 schools, and a budget of $1.45 billion. As the
son of a Cuban refugee and a Dominican immigrant, he advocates for the diverse needs of his students.
Under his leadership, the district achieved its highest-ever graduation rates, increased proficiency rates, and saw the implementation of its first-ever equity-based strategic plan. His efforts raised salaries and established living wages for all
employees, while enhancing school safety and cybersecurity. He established the Latine Education Advisory Council to enhance educational outcomes for Latino/Hispanic students, launched the International Educators Institute to aid new international
teachers in adapting to the educational system and community and opened six Community Hubs which connect students, families, and community members with free services to increase their economic self-sufficiency and academic success.
In 2024, he successfully championed the passage of a nearly billion-dollar bond proposal, the largest in Denver Public Schools' history, earning 75% approval and underscoring his ability to galvanize community support. It also demonstrated a shared
commitment to enhancing opportunities for every student, educator, and family in the district.
Marrero’s leadership philosophy is centered on empowering every student, regardless of their background, to overcome obstacles and become innovative leaders in their fields, reflecting his personal journey and commitment to educational excellence.
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