May 2026 - Jeremy Jimenez

Colorado Association of Latino/a Administrators and Superintendents LA LUZ DE LIDERAZGO - A MEMBERSHIP SPOTLIGHT May 2026

Welcome to the CO ALAS Membership Spotlight. Each month we introduce you to one of our many CO-ALAS members. Let’s see what they are doing and what’s on their mind!

This month we are featuring Jeremy Jimenez, Chief Academic Officer of Pinnacle Charter School. Jeremy shares his professional career and current bio below. You can read the diverse experiences that have led to his various leadership roles. One of our shining stars!

🌟 Career Highlights & Education

Born and raised in Colorado, I have proudly called this state home my entire life and graduated from Northglenn High School in Adams 12. I am a proud two-time Buffalo and one-time Lynx, having earned my B.A., M.A., and Ed.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Colorado Denver, respectively. I currently serve as the Chief Academic Officer at Pinnacle Charter School.

Over the course of my 20-year career in education, I have served students and communities in Boulder Valley, Mapleton, Adams 14, and Aurora Public Schools. My professional experience includes roles as a teacher, football coach, moot court sponsor, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Student Services, Executive Director of Secondary Education, Executive Director of Student Success, and now Chief Academic Officer.

✨ What is exciting about my job?

The most rewarding part of my work is the opportunity to engage with students, teachers, and administrators who are committed to increasing the social capital of students and their communities. Seeing the lasting impact we can have on students’ futures makes every challenge, long day, and hard-earned success incredibly worthwhile.

🧠 Words from a consejero/a

Look for the good. 

I am sharing this because it was once shared with me by a former superintendent, Dr. Ranelle Lang, who also served as my principal coach. At that point in my career, I was not sure I wanted to remain in education, and she could see it. Things had become so difficult that I intentionally carried a large set of keys on my lanyard so people could hear me coming down the hallway. I hoped that students and adults would stop whatever poor choices they were making before I arrived so I would not have to deal with it.

Dr. Lang gave me an assignment to write a note of gratitude to someone connected to the school and mail it to their home. Writing notes like that was not my style, and I initially told her no. Since she was a former superintendent, my resistance lasted about five seconds before she moved on with the assignment.

That assignment changed my life and ultimately kept me in this profession. I wrote two notes home, and the response was incredible. The notes either strengthened existing relationships or created entirely new ones. From that point on, I began writing notes of pride whenever staff, students, or parents did something that reflected pride in our community. I stopped coming to work focused on avoiding the bad, and I started intentionally looking for the good.

To this day, I come to work each morning thinking about whom I can write a positive note home to before the day ends. 

I encourage you to try this. When someone receives a handwritten note at home, it carries a different kind of meaning. If you decide to give it a try, let me know how it goes. Feel free to send me a text at 720-935-1337.

💡 Advice you would give a new school leader?

One of my favorite sayings is, “This too shall pass.” It is simple, but incredibly powerful. In the toughest moments, it serves as a reminder to stay grounded, keep perspective, and remember that challenges are temporary.

☀️ If you catch me outside the office, you'll find...

I have a busy and very active family, so most of my time outside of work is spent driving kids all over town for football, basketball, volleyball, track and field, soccer, and ballet. My family includes a 15-year-old son, daughters who are 13 and 12, and an 8-year-old son who keeps us all on our toes.

If the stars align and I somehow find a little free time, I occasionally get out on the golf course with Dr. Cabrera.

I almost forgot about choir. All of my kids are involved in choir, and I was completely unprepared for the number of choir concerts that come with it each year.

🤝 How does CO-ALAS add value?

I cannot express enough how much I have learned from CO-ALAS and how much I have grown through its conferences and, most importantly, the relationships and connections I have built along the way. Catrina Estrada encouraged me to join, and because of that decision, Dr. Murillo helped elevate my resume game, while Dr. Cabrera and Don Rangel have become incredible mentors in my professional journey. Even for this assignment, I found myself applying ideas from Javier Ibarra’s presentation at the April Conference by using the mini mic he highlighted.

Through the CO-ALAS scholarship, I had the opportunity to participate in the Colorado Education Initiative’s Rural Superintendents Academy this year. With this support, I successfully completed the academy and gained valuable knowledge and leadership skills that I look forward to bringing back to support and strengthen my school community. 

I am deeply grateful for this organization and for the amazing members who continue to support, inspire, and challenge one another to grow.