Board of Advisors
Mehran Ahmed
Principal, Vista PEAK Preparatory (Aurora Public Schools). Veteran P–12 leader known for culture‑building and program design; previously served as principal of Aurora Central High School (launching the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts campus) and as Executive Director at AXL Academy. Focus areas: school turnaround, arts‑integrated pathways, and community‑driven improvement.
Dr. Susan Korach, Ed.D.
Emerita Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Denver (DU). She co-created a nationally recognized principal preparation program that has served as a model for leadership preparation across the country. Her scholarship and practice emphasize leadership pipelines, learning transfer, and high-impact university–school partnerships.
Focus areas: leadership preparation, institutional change, and university–school partnerships.
Dr. Dorothy Shapland Rodriguez, Ed.D.
Professor of Early Childhood Education, Metropolitan State University of Denver, following 30+ years in Montessori and public schools. Her scholarship centers on family partnerships, social-emotional learning in early grades, and trauma-informed, equity-focused practice. Appointed to the Denver Head Start Policy Council (2024–2025). Focus areas: early childhood education, inclusive learning communities, and culturally responsive teaching.