The Eaton School District chose Todd Cordrey out of four finalists to serve as the new superintendent for the 2025-26 school year.
Next school year, Cordrey will lead the school district upon the resignation of Superintendent Jay Tapia at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Tapia has worked in education for nearly 29 years, becoming superintendent in 2020 after serving as Eaton High School’s principal for three years.
Cordrey will bring more than 22 years of experience in K-12 educational leadership in rural and urban school districts, specializing in strategic planning, academic achievement and community engagement, according to an Eaton School District news release. He has held multiple roles throughout his career, including superintendent of two Colorado school districts, executive director of a Title I charter school, board president of an urban school district and adjunct faculty in the Principal Licensure Program.
He currently serves as the superintendent of Mancos School District near Durango, where he prioritizes project-based learning to enhance student engagement. His leadership has improved “student achievement, financial stewardship and innovative educational initiatives,” according to the release
“With a vast background in education, Cordrey will bring a fresh perspective and a long-term vision for the future of our schools,” the release said. “He has a strong commitment to our community’s values and a passion for student success.”
The Eaton School District hosted a public forum and meet-and-greet on Friday evening at Eaton High School for community members to learn about the plans and experience of the four finalists: Cordrey, Dustin Hunt, Scott Cooper and Jim Fraley.
Although Hunt could not attend the event due to injuries from a vehicle collision, the forum carried on with a question-and-answer session and a chance to have one-on-one discussions.
Eaton School District’s finalists for superintendent, from left to right, Jim Fraley, Scott Cooper and Todd Cordrey, attended a public forum and meet-and-greet on Friday, March 7 at Eaton High School. (Morgan McKenzie/Staff Reporter)Cooper serves as the director of Educational Pathways to Innovative Careers at the Colorado River Board of Cooperative Educational Services and has more than 25 years of experience in educaiton.
Fraley, who serves as the assistant superintendent of instruction for Laramie County School District No. 1 in Wyoming, planned to bring his nearly 30 years of education experience to the Eaton role.
Looking long-term, focusing on academics
At the forum, prospective superintendents dove into topics such as handling parent conflict, addressing diversity and acceptance in “a minimally diverse unit,” preventing bullying, maintaining smaller class sizes and more.
Cordrey’s remarks about his long-term plans for the district stuck out — building on the district’s strengths with a focus on “collaboration, academic excellence and ensuring every student has the resources they need,” the release said.
“The magic happens in the classroom,” Cordrey said. “What I hope to bring to the Eaton School District is a focus on raising your already high academic performance by providing support to your teachers in the classroom. Secondly, I have a real passion and affinity for career-connected learning. I really think it’s important for us to focus on small-town values but provide big-city opportunities.”
His five-year plans and goals for the school district would make academic performance, something Eaton is already known for, a priority, he said. Cordrey noted the Colorado Department of Education rates Eaton as “accredited,” but the district only needs 14 more points to reach “accredited with distinction.”
Accredited with distinction means school districts have earned 80% or more points on the District Performance Frameworks, which measure student performance in academic achievement, academic growth, academic growth gaps and post-secondary and workforce readiness.
Cordrey said he’ll strive to work tirelessly with the entire school district team to raise the performance accreditation, making academics and athletics both strong suits in Eaton.
“That’s a mark you haven’t reached yet, but it’s a mark you’re going to reach,” he said about academics. “You guys are known for your athletic performance — you get state championship after state championship — and now it’s time for you guys to be in that very elite academic performance also.”
As part of this academic pursuit, Cordrey presented an idea called the “five-star graduate.” If developed, this would mean 100% of Eaton students graduate with four other attainments: 30 college credits, three career certifications, 20 hours of meaningful community service and the confirmation they will go on to attend a two-year college, a four-year university, the military or a career.
Eaton High School on Friday, March 7. (Morgan McKenzie/Staff Reporter)Cordrey said Eaton and other small-town communities are special because they are “tight and caring” and create strong connections between businesses, the school district and neighbors. Locations such as Eaton are “the perfect place to raise a kid,” he added.
“We have a special thing here,” he said. “And as a superintendent, it’s just my job to come in here and fortify what’s already going well and support the small-town culture.”
Three interview committees, each with eight members consisting of school administrators, teachers, staff, parents and community representatives, participated in the interview process with the finalists on Saturday. The district selected Cordrey based on the committee input, as well as feedback cards from attendees of Friday’s meet-and-greet event.
Cordrey will begin work this summer. In addition to his educational and professional experience, Cordrey stays involved and active in his community through community service, including the chamber of commerce, local faith-based organizations, nonprofits and more.
“We believe his extensive background in education, as well as personal core values, make him a great fit for the position of superintendent for the Eaton School District and a leader who will be steadfast in our motto: Our Business is Children,” the release said.
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