Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Liz Tencate

Denver

Summary

Accomplished district administrator, school designer, leadership coach, and recognized educational leader with a proven record of success across diverse programs, including HGT Magnet, IB, Dual Language, Title 1, and traditional schools. Awarded the Blue Ribbon, Governor’s Growth Award, and John Irwin Award for exceptional leadership and high growth in multiple school settings. Expert in fostering innovative teaching practices, creating compelling visions, and executing strategic plans that engage communities, inspire educators, and ignite a passion for learning in students, driving significant academic growth. Skilled in mentoring and developing leaders, cultivating leadership pipelines, and building strong community partnerships to address the unique needs of students. Extensive experience designing and implementing support systems for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and student well-being. A seasoned instructional leader with a track record of guiding teams, managing complex projects, and achieving significant student achievement gains within large, multifaceted systems. Known for cultivating high-performing, cross-functional teams, setting high standards, and aligning efforts with organizational goals, all while maintaining a collaborative approach and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience

Work History

Interim Chief of Teaching and Learning

Colorado Springs District 11
09.2024 - Current


  • Strategic Leadership and Planning:
    Led the design and implementation of district-wide strategic professional development, instructional coaching and leadership development ensuring alignment across PreK-12 instruction to meet both academic standards and district goals. Guided the integration of research-based instructional practices, promoting coherence across grade levels and subject areas, resulting in a unified approach to teaching and learning that fostered greater student success. Collaborated across departments to align strategies, curricula, and resources, ensuring coherence and consistency in teaching and learning. Worked with cross-functional teams to identify areas for improvement, driving initiatives that resulted in increased student achievement. Foster a culture focused on key instructional strategy initiatives that raised student performance across the district moving from 15 priority and watch schools to 7, to currently 3.
  • Curriculum Development and Alignment:
    Directed the alignment of curriculum frameworks across all grade levels, ensuring consistency in both scope and sequence to provide a seamless educational experience from PreK through 12th grade. Collaborated with department heads and instructional teams to review and refine and adopt where needed curricula, ensuring integration of state standards and district priorities while accommodating diverse student needs and learning styles.
  • Data-Driven Instructional Leadership:
    Implemented a systematic process for using data to drive instructional decision-making across the district. Analyzed student achievement data at multiple levels (classroom, school, district) to identify gaps and areas of focus. Developed targeted professional development based on this data to ensure instructional strategies were aligned with student needs and district goals, leading to measurable improvements in academic performance.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration for Coherence:
    Facilitated collaboration among curriculum specialists, school leadership teams, and instructional coaches to ensure coherence in instructional delivery across all schools and grade levels. Led the development of shared expectations and instructional goals, supporting school leaders in consistently implementing aligned teaching practices. Fostered a district-wide culture of collaboration, leading to the creation of cohesive instructional planning aligned with academic benchmarks and student outcomes.
  • Community and Stakeholder Engagement for System-wide Alignment:
    Built partnerships with parents, community organizations, and local stakeholders to ensure that instructional priorities were aligned with community expectations and needs. Led the development of communication strategies to engage stakeholders in the district’s vision for academic excellence and ensure that district initiatives were supported by all parties involved, resulting in increased community buy-in and aligned support for student achievement.
  • Professional Development to Support Instructional Alignment:
    Designed and implemented a comprehensive, ongoing professional development program that focused on aligning teaching strategies with district priorities. Ensured professional learning opportunities were consistent across all schools and grade levels, and included training on best practices, curriculum standards, and instructional strategies that supported coherence in teaching and learning across the system.
  • Instructional Supervision and Support for Coherence:
    Provided targeted coaching and feedback to school leaders and instructional staff to ensure instructional practices were consistent and aligned across schools. Conducted regular classroom observations and facilitated reflective conversations with educators, offering actionable insights to ensure teaching methods supported district-wide goals for student achievement and instructional quality.
  • Planning and Development for Instructional Alignment:
    Led the creation and implementation of instructional frameworks that promoted alignment across schools, including guidelines for curriculum pacing, assessment strategies, and data use. Worked with district leadership to ensure that new policies were communicated effectively and supported the long-term goal of creating a cohesive, high-performing educational system that was aligned to meet the needs of all students.

Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Colorado Springs, District 11
07.2023 - 09.2024
  • Responsible for all district professional learning and site based support in literacy, math, science, social studies, world languages, health, P.E, visual and performing arts and personalized learning K12
  • Developed and supported cascading learning opportunities for Principals, Assistant Principals and Teacher Leaders focused on planning for learning in mathematics and literacy K12 aligned to the three Major Improvement Strategies of the district
  • Developed action steps aligned to the Academic Master Plan and supported the ongoing development of pathways K-12 across the district with individualized professional learning as well as to create a continuum of learning opportunities for families across the district including dual language, arts integration, IB and Outdoor Education pathways
  • Created district structures to follow up on professional development, including learning walks with principals and instructional coaches to see evidence of professional learning in classrooms and refine professional development to further meet the needs of classroom teachers based on learning walks and feedback opportunities as well as data analysis
  • Created Instructional block guidance documents, with facilitator team, to outline district expectations aligned to a coherent literacy block aligned to the science of reading as well as a block guidance document to support highly effective mathematics instruction
  • Worked with the Social Studies team to conduct an RFP and review process for the district curriculum adoption process
  • Led new team in high school content and competency work, to create a more cohesive and coherent approach to high school instructional courses and rigor aligned to state standards
  • Developed a strong strategic plan to focus on increased student achievement and set up systems and structures to support school teams and area superintendents with prioritized support in coaching and professional learning
  • Worked with the Academics Leadership Team to ensure high quality professional development, across disciplines, led to increased student growth outcomes including CLDE, GT, SPED, Future Ready and SEL
  • Worked with University of Virginia's Darden School Of Businesses program Partnership for Leadership in Education supporting 8 school teams in priority improvement to create stronger systems of support and instructional expertise in data analysis, strategic planning protocols and standards alignment work
  • Worked to develop a strong coaching cohort, modeled on highly effective instructional practices in coaching
  • Developed a vision and mission for coaching work in D11
  • Started path towards creating lab classrooms across D11 to support new teachers, struggling teachers and alternative licensure teachers to see strong practices in action, with pre-brief and debrief protocols
  • Worked to build out a cascading model of professional learning from principals to teacher leaders, to the classroom to ultimately move student achievement at a more rapid pace
  • Mid year data shows the growth made in half a year this year, exceeds growth made all year in 2022-2023 in mathematics

Principal/ Principal Mentor

Ashley Elementary
01.2019 - 01.2023
  • Raised school performance on the State SPF from priority improvement to performance (a rating the school had never received), intentional re-working of instructional and SEL systems and supports
  • Developed a strong strategic plan to focus on increased student achievement, re-engagement of the community, and hiring and retention of highly effective staff aligned to the vision and mission of the school
  • Aligned the to instructional priorities and strategies to increase student achievement
  • Worked closely with the Luminary Learning Network, the governing body for Ashley's Innovation Plan as a part of a network of innovative schools leveraging autonomies in several areas including curriculum, assessment and budget to support personalized strategic plans to meet community needs
  • Worked with staff on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives including a partnership with Promise 54, the Sims Fayola Foundation, re-alignment of curriculum with a more culturally responsive curricular planning approach, book study and implicit bias work; created the Black Excellence Plan focused on ensuring the school closed performance gaps for students of color
  • Built a differentiated PD model, grounded in instructional strategy work in both literacy and math, lower and upper elementary
  • Streamlined instructional planning work and systems and structures to align work across the school to ensure high quality planning and instruction for all students
  • Worked to build an internal leadership pipeline to ensure continuity within the school to school strategic plan and initiatives
  • Built community partnerships including with community funding partners to provide after school enrichment programming
  • Built partnerships with Transform Education Now, CABE, and FACE to build parent voice and advocacy within the school and district for best educational outcomes for kids

Interim Principal/ Principal Mentor

Cory Elementary
01.2017 - 01.2019
  • Asked to lead a magnet program for Highly Gifted and Talented School through a leadership transition
  • Worked collaboratively with the staff and the community to build a compelling mission and vision for the school, creating a road map for school initiatives and providing a grounding in the direction the school wanted to move
  • School was recognized as the third highest growth school in the district, raising math scores significantly after a three-year decline
  • Created differentiated professional learning model to support adult learning and build a professional culture to support adult learning-engaged in weekly professional development grounded in thinking strategies, and math focused based on a previous three-year decline in math
  • Worked collaboratively to develop a vision for, and implementation of, a differentiated math instructional model including compacted classroom models
  • Led staff through a school-wide backwards design process throughout the year, in both math and literacy, to re-work the instructional units in the curriculum adding more complex and thematic literature, building in learning experiences tied to essential questions, big ideas, extensions and relevance to current events

Principal

Swigert International School
01.2012 - 01.2017
  • Served as instructional leader for a brand new ECE-5 school serving 695 students in an International Baccalaureate Model
  • The school has consistently been named in the top performing schools (both growth and status) in the state and has been recognized as the most 'choiced' elementary school in Denver through the DPS choice process
  • School was also awarded National Blue Ribbon school status
  • Designed and developed inquiry-based curriculum grounded in the state and national standards as well as the philosophy, standards and guiding principles of The International Baccalaureate Organization
  • Developed guiding mission and vision statement, align all professional learning, student field experiences and curricular resources to that vision and mission
  • Leveraged Innovation Status to create systems, structures, budget, calendar and professional learning opportunities for staff and students to continue increasing the school's high growth and student achievement
  • Worked collaboratively with the school leadership team to develop and deliver high quality professional learning regularly to staff in areas of literacy, mathematics, integration, inquiry, assessment, use of data among other areas
  • Facilitated PLC, IB and data teams weekly, for various grade levels focused on four core areas: effective use of data to drive instruction, effective instructional practices/strategies, quality work and developing high levels of student engagement
  • Implemented structures and routines to maximize instructional time to provide for data analysis opportunities, foster collaboration, and maintain focus on achieving the school's vision of high quality, effective instructional practices in every classroom
  • Developed and implemented a strategic plan aligned to the mission and vision of the school that effectively sets priorities and measurable goals, to support the growth and development of school programming
  • Partnered with outside learning organizations to develop high quality professional learning including the PEBC, Jr
  • Great Books, Harvard Project Zero, Reading in the Rockies, Orton Gillingham, and the IBO among others to support high student growth and achievement
  • Worked with the leadership team to create school-wide lesson planning and IB template documents to develop a consistent and coherent approach to our expected instructional planning practices
  • Built an intervention team model with a deep toolkit of research-based interventions to address a variety of learning needs
  • Meet weekly with a team to track and monitor student progress and adjust interventions as needed
  • Led the school through the rigorous IB authorization process, resulting in full IB authorization based on building a model that met all standards and best practices of the International Baccalaureate Organization
  • Implemented a rigorous selection model to identify, recruit and hire effective staff aligned with the school's mission and vision
  • Developed partnerships with community organizations to support the mission and vision of the school particularly in regards to social action and experiential learning
  • Designed a Senior Team Lead model to support coaching and feedback as well as data driven instructional planning at every grade level
  • Developed one of the first elementary STEM programs as a recipient of a Lockheed Martin Grant
  • Managed a $3 million-dollar budget, over 50 staff members; Managed a facility, grounds, maintenance etc

Co-Founder/Assistant Principal and International Baccalaureate Coordinator

Swigert International School
01.2011 - 01.2013
  • Responsible for collaborating with all Swigert staff to create an instructional program grounded in the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate Organization focused on inquiry learning and developing international mindedness in our students
  • Led collaborative grade level meetings, weekly, to broaden and deepen teacher understanding of instructional practices and the theoretical underpinnings of the IBO
  • Led all meetings focused on creating and implementing units of inquiry that develop students' intellectual curiosity, allow students to make global connections, and foster a sense of stewardship for their community, country and world
  • Created the IB Authorization plan, including developing and implementing all IB Standards, instructional components and policies
  • Created and delivered Professional Development focused on inquiry learning, effective practices, integration, differentiation and the Common Core State Standards
  • Co-leader of weekly grade level data teams which are focused on analyzing student work to make strategic instructional grouping decisions, determine next instructional steps as well as identifying appropriate teaching methods to maximize academic growth
  • Key member of the School Leadership Team responsible for leading the school's development of professional growth opportunities and school policies
  • Developed the first collaborative PDU model between three schools in the Stapleton neighborhood in Denver focused on best practices and strategies in early literacy

Principal

Fairmont Dual Immersion Academy
01.2005 - 01.2011
  • Transformed a school with a history of significant behavior issues and poor instructional outcomes into the beginnings of a vibrant urban school that experienced strong growth, outpacing the district growth in multiple grade levels in multiple content areas over time
  • Led a transformation in culture, climate and instructional focus
  • Recognized as one of the highest growth schools in the Denver Public Schools 2010-2011
  • In my time at Fairmont the number of continuously enrolled students proficient in reading and writing doubled
  • In 2011, the transformative work at Fairmont was the school featured on a film presentation at the Denver Public School Foundation's annual gala and major fundraising event of the year
  • Developed a strategic plan to bring the community back to the neighborhood school through the re-design of Fairmont into a DCIS school model
  • Served as an instructional leader, leading weekly data team conversations with staff focused on examining student work, determining next instructional steps, and backwards design planning
  • Provided regular feedback to teachers in grades ECE-8 highlighting strengths and next steps, cognitively coach teachers to grow in their practice
  • Participated in or led PD weekly focused on effective teaching practices in reading and writing
  • Worked closely with the facilitator and the Public Business and Education Coalition to plan and develop high quality differentiated professional development focused on our Unified Improvement Plan
  • Managed a $2.5-million-dollar budget effectively, to ensure the school was staffed with a strong faculty, resources and support personnel
  • Worked closely with several district departments including Teaching and Learning, English Language Development and others to ensure staff receive high quality instructional growth opportunities
  • Work collaboratively with team leads to develop internal and external earning labs to explore effective practice in math and literacy
  • Wrote multiple grants to support special school programs including Lights On After School, Innovative Technology and special funding from The Daniel's Fund
  • Mentor to Daniel's Fund Scholarship recipient
  • Ability to mediate conflict effectively, diffuse difficult situations, lead difficult conversations

Teacher

Denver School of the Arts; Force Elementary
01.2000 - 01.2005

Director of School and Family Programs

Women of the West Museum
01.1998 - 01.2000
  • Developed pilot educational programs for the museum for both adult and child audiences
  • Worked with museum president and staff on all aspects of strategic planning for the museum with a focus on program development
  • Created and directed several innovative, community-based programs including the following: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: A Denver Neighborhood Women's History Trail created by 120 fourth and fifth-grade students from Dora Moore School in Denver; received a Best of Denver 2000 award for Best Extracurricular Activity by Westword Newspaper
  • This program was also featured on Colorado Public Radio
  • Wheel of Western Women film project newspaper created by 12-17-year-old girls in the YWCA's EDGE empowerment Program
  • Querida Madre (Beloved Mother) mural project created by twenty-four children living in the Boulder Housing Authority's subsidized apartments in partnership with the I Have a Dream Foundation that received the Regional National Association of Housing and Community Development Award
  • Developed a partnership program with the Tattered Cover bookstore and an author of the American Girl Series, on Josephina, An American Girl
  • Developed the Trailblazer's Lecture Series, featuring lectures by leading women's history scholars
  • Researched and co-wrote a 58-page Newspapers in Education curriculum entitled Women of the West, sponsored by Scripps Howard
  • These projects attracted considerable local and national attention including print and electronic media, Colorado Public Radio, the President's Commission on the Celebration of Women in American History and the Rails to Trails Conservancy

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism

Indiana University, Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

Master of Arts - Curriculum And Instruction

New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM

Master of Arts - Administrative Leadership And Policy Studies

University of Colorado
Boulder

Skills

  • Time management
  • Precision in Task Execution
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Multitasking Abilities
  • Strong Communication Skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Calm under pressure
  • Effective Listening
  • Organization and time management
  • Problem resolution

Languages

Spanish
Full Professional

Timeline

Interim Chief of Teaching and Learning

Colorado Springs District 11
09.2024 - Current

Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Colorado Springs, District 11
07.2023 - 09.2024

Principal/ Principal Mentor

Ashley Elementary
01.2019 - 01.2023

Interim Principal/ Principal Mentor

Cory Elementary
01.2017 - 01.2019

Principal

Swigert International School
01.2012 - 01.2017

Co-Founder/Assistant Principal and International Baccalaureate Coordinator

Swigert International School
01.2011 - 01.2013

Principal

Fairmont Dual Immersion Academy
01.2005 - 01.2011

Teacher

Denver School of the Arts; Force Elementary
01.2000 - 01.2005

Director of School and Family Programs

Women of the West Museum
01.1998 - 01.2000

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism

Indiana University, Bloomington

Master of Arts - Curriculum And Instruction

New Mexico State University

Master of Arts - Administrative Leadership And Policy Studies

University of Colorado

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Liz Tencate