Dr. Cile Chavez Rural Superintendent Academy Fellows

The Dr. Cile Chavez Fellowship is intended to inspire diverse, under-represented education leaders to join the RSA and bring their unique perspectives to the helm of Colorado districts. Each year, two RSA fellows are selected to receive financial assistance from the Boettcher Foundation to support costs related to their participation.  

“I believe this world is more and more diverse. And recognizing and appreciating diversity will only enhance the lives of students and their journeys in life. To value the merits of a diverse field of superintendents will only enhance the creativity of services, programs, solutions, and ideas.”

– Retired Boettcher Foundation Trustee and longtime Colorado education leader Dr. Cile Chavez.

Dr. Domangue’s experience as an educator includes classroom teaching, special education, serving as a building principal and assistant principal, director of curriculum and instruction, and that as assistant professor at the university level.     

In her application to become a Chavez Fellow, Dr. Domangue stated, “As a woman, a first-generation college student, and a Cajun from South Louisiana, I have had my own unique challenges navigating educational systems from Kindergarten through my doctoral degree.”

Dr. Rodríguez is the newly appointed superintendent of the Roaring Fork School District and a Colorado native, though he most recently served as the chief academic officer for the Dallas Independent School District. Rodríguez is an educational product of Weld RE3-J and 27J school districts in Hudson and Brighton. He led CU-Boulder’s BUENO Center for Multicultural Education, served as principal of Trevista at Horace Mann, and was an instructional superintendent for Denver Public Schools.   

In his application to become a Chavez Fellow, Dr. Rodríguez shared, “there are many Latinx students in Roaring Fork Schools who have never had a teacher, principal, or superintendent who looks like them or who speaks their home language. My hiring means we’ll begin to better reflect the racial and cultural diversity of the local communities in Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs, which is important for all students. Our entire community has an opportunity, every day, to expand their understanding of cultures different from their own. For students like me, and the majority of the students in Roaring Fork Schools, seeing ourselves reflected in the educators and leaders in our schools can be life-changing and create opportunities for greater dreams to be realized.

Cindy has worked in rural school settings as a classroom teacher, special education instructor and case manager, a gifted and talented teacher and coordinator, a building administrator, and even as a board of education director.   

Cindy was chosen as a Chavez Fellow because of her commitment to equity. “I see one of my most impactful contributions to my students and staff right now is to provide hope,” she said. “The bleakness of this past year has left many unmoored. Job losses, food insecurity, and very high COVID positivity rates in Logan County have taken their toll. Although our community’s losses and mental health impacts have not been equitable, our responses will be. I want to lead by example today and inspire others to lead in the future.”

Luis is in his seventh year as a Colorado rural school leader. “Holding important seats of service and power are an integral part in supporting the development of equity for students and future leaders,” he said. “It is important for people of color to see people like them in those seats. This begins to break the stereotypes that people of color fill classified positions in education. Furthermore, in supporting equity for students and future education leaders, I believe it is imperative to tap into the pipeline. “