4 Corners Leadership Academy

 4 Corners Latinx Leadership Academy 

 

Entering its sixth year (2025/26), the 4 Corners Latinx Leadership Academy is a unique year long 8 session leadership seminar series, bringing together the leadership expertise from four ALAS (Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents) regional affiliates--AZALAS (Arizona), CO-ALAS (Colorado), ALAS de Nuevo México (New Mexico), and ALAS-U (Utah). Recognizing the disproportionate representation of Latinx leaders at the executive level, the Academy develops Latinx leaders who seek to move into executive district/organizational leadership, e.g., executive directors, assistant superintendents, chief officers, and others. At this time, there have been 96 Cohort Fellows who have graduated from the 4 Corners Academy. Several have since moved forward in their leadership pathway, others have positioned themselves to seek higher level positions for the 2025/26 school year. 

 

The 4 Corners Latinx Leadership Academy Purpose and Vision 

What Makes Us Unique and Stand Out 

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• Demonstrate opportunities to disrupt/address the disparity of Latino/a aspiring leaders to gain support, advocacy, awareness, and leadership components integral to both site and district leadership positions. 

• Collaborate with the four corner states to enhance and provide value to aspiring leaders that have aspirations to be leaders at both site and district based positions. 

• Learn strategies, systems, structures, and processes–systems leadership– needed to work at the executive level. 

• Provide mentoring, networking and connecting specifically for leadership within the capacity of our four corner areas. 

 

The Four Corners Latino Leadership Academy fosters the skills and understanding for Latinx in educational leadership. We are shaping a new narrative for Latinx in a variety of educational settings. Using an equity lens in our decisions, actions, and influence as we work with adults, students and families.

 

4Corners Latinx Leadership Academy Training Outline 

State Topic Learning Outcomes 

A systems leadership perspective 

 

Colorado 

• Ensures leadership awareness of the District Vision, Mission, Equity  

• Establishes Instructional leadership.  Ensures a common vision of effective instruction. 

• Observes and analyzes data and provides support for high expectations for instruction and learning for all students.

• Implements a continuous improvement and planning and progress monitoring process resulting in visible improvement in student and staff outcomes. 

 

New Mexico 

• Establishes an Operational Leadership Core 

• Demonstrates shared leadership and collaborative structures 

• Demonstrates a commitment to a diverse population and inclusive climate, setting expectations that all students will succeed 

• Ensures the recruiting, hiring and assignments of staff is collaborative, aligned to district focus and is determined by needs of students 

 

Utah

• Clarity of Focus and Core Values are a part of the everyday work. Leadership 

• Creates and supports a positive and inclusive climate that is safe, caring and engaging 

• Creates and supports a culture that is collaborative; supports effective systems and structure to maximize student/adult learning 

• Ensure equity for all students and staff is supported through inclusive practices and the differentiation of services based on students' needs 

 

Arizona

• Establishes Values and Managerial Leadership; displays professional behavior at all times and addresses inappropriate behavior including conflicts as they arise 

• Demonstrates Interpersonal and Emotional Communication effectively 

• Exhibits Intelligence, Growth Mindset/ Continuous Improvement; Understands District Initiatives 

• Exhibits self awareness reflective practice 

• Carefully selects and clarifies expectations 

 

Colorado/New Mexico/Utah/Arizona (will rotate annually)

• Graduation*  

  • Leadership learning final

  • Graduation event

* Graduates are called “Fellows”

 

Certification/Graduation Credit Options: All participants receive contact hour professional development certificates to use for recertification of professional licenses, depending on the requirement of each respective state. Additionally, Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, provides graduate credit for those who register for the 4 Corners Leadership course. 

 

For more information contact Dr. Ron Cabrera, 4 Corners Latinx Leadership Academy Executive Director.

Email: ron.cabrera@co-alas.org

Cell: 970.744.8293