Pat Sanchez, superintendent of the Adams County School District 14 in Commerce City, Colorado, has been named Latino Superintendent of the Year by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS).
As leader of the 26th largest school district in Colorado, Sanchez oversees the education of more than 7,500 students; 73 percent qualify for free and reduced lunch, nearly 87 percent are children of color, and about 55 percent of students are English Language Learners.
In selecting Sanchez for recognition, ALAS cited his efforts to pursue more equitable access to high-quality education for all students and to ensure that all students in Adams 14 have access to culturally responsive learning environments that facilitate seamless English-language acquisition.
Sanchez received a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University and a master's degree in administration, supervision and curriculum development at the University of Colorado at Denver in 2000.