October 2025 - Cristhina Shaikh

Colorado Association of Latino/a Administrators and Superintendents LA LUZ DE LIDERAZGO - A MEMBERSHIP SPOTLIGHT October 2025

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 Cristhina Shaikh, Principal at Munroe Elementary in Denver Public Schools. Cristhina shares their professional career and current bio below. You can read the diverse experiences that have led to their various leadership roles. One of our shining stars!

🌟 Career Highlights & Education

Cristhina is a school principal, educator, and advocate dedicated to cultivating leadership and opportunity within historically marginalized communities. She currently serves as Principal of Munroe Elementary in Denver Public Schools, where she leads with a deep commitment to family partnerships, biliteracy, and culturally responsive education.

A proud first-generation college graduate and daughter of immigrants from Las Vegas, Nevada, Cristhina began her career as a classroom teacher, later transitioning into leadership roles driven by her passion for equity and representation. Over the past decade, she has worked to create inclusive school environments where students’ identities, languages, and stories are centered in their learning.

Cristhina holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master’s in Urban Education from the University of Denver. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Equity at the University of Colorado Denver, where her research focuses on the barriers and pathways to Latina leadership in education.

Beyond her role as a principal, Cristhina is an adjunct professor and mentor passionate about building the Latine leadership pipeline and cultivating spaces where educators of color can thrive. Her work is grounded in the belief that representation matters and that transformational leadership begins with heart, community, and purpose.

✨ What is exciting about my job?

What excites me most about being a principal is the deep sense of connection I get to build every day with students, families, and staff who share a common belief in the transformative power of education. At Munroe Elementary, our school truly feels like an extension of family. From morning greetings at the front doors to our community celebrations, I see the way relationships shape learning and belonging.

It’s inspiring to partner with parents who are deeply invested in their children’s success and to create spaces where their voices guide the work we do. Many of our families remind me of my own upbringing, hardworking, determined, and full of hope. Together, we’re writing the story of what’s possible for our communities. Watching our students thrive in biliteracy pathways, seeing teachers collaborate with joy and purpose, and witnessing families feel proud and empowered to lead alongside us is what makes this work so meaningful. Every day, I’m reminded that strong schools are built through strong relationships.

🧠 Words from a consejero/a

Leadership is both head and heart work. As leaders, we must honor the stories of those who came before us while paving the way for those who will come after. My journey as a Latina principal, scholar, and advocate is rooted in the belief that representation matters and that when our students see leaders who look like them, speak like them, and understand their experiences, it changes what they believe is possible.

As a consejera, I carry the responsibility and privilege of cultivating others. My role is not only to lead but to listen and to hold space for reflection, affirmation, and growth. I believe in mentoring with intention and corazón, helping others recognize their brilliance and reminding them that their lived experiences are their leadership superpowers. I often tell emerging leaders that our leadership is an act of love and resistance. We lead differently because we lead collectively, with empathy, cultural pride, and deep respect for the communities we serve.

My hope is to continue building a network of mujeres y hombres de cambio who lift as they climb, who understand that leadership is not about hierarchy but about humanity. We belong in every room where decisions about our students, our teachers, and our communities are made.

💡 Advice you would give a new school leader?

1. Lead with cultural humility and deep community connection. Take time to listen to the voices of your students, families, and staff before making decisions. The most meaningful leadership happens when we understand the stories, values, and dreams of the people we serve.

2. Build a strong network of mentors and thought partners who will challenge and sustain you because leadership can be lonely if you try to do it in isolation. Surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth with compassion, remind you of your “why,” and celebrate your wins along the way.

3. Take care of yourself. This work will always demand more and there will always be another meeting, another email, another crisis. Don’t get caught in the constant hustle and lose sight of what it’s really for. Our students and communities need leaders who are present, grounded, and whole. Protect your joy, make space for rest, and give yourself the same grace you extend to others.

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

You’ll find me recharging through connection, spending time with family and friends, sharing good food, and celebrating the small moments that keep life joyful. I love a good book, especially those that challenge my thinking and inspire my leadership but also a good historical fiction story. I’m also in the midst of pursuing my Doctorate in Educational Leadership, which means many evenings are spent reading research, writing, and reflecting on how to turn learning into meaningful change for schools like mine.

When I’m not studying or reading, I love exploring new coffee shops, trying new things, and finding creative outlets that help me slow down and stay grounded.

🤝 How does CO-ALAS add value?

CO-ALAS has been a constant source of inspiration, connection, and affirmation in my leadership journey. Through CO-ALAS, I’ve found mentors who pour into me, colleagues who challenge and inspire me, and friends who remind me that our work is sacred. Every conversation, conference, and gathering fills me with the energy and courage to keep pushing for change.

As a Latina leader, I often carry the weight of representing my community while navigating spaces that weren’t built for us but CO-ALAS reminds me I don’t do it alone. It’s where we celebrate one another’s accomplishments, hold space for each other’s struggles, and collectively dream of what’s possible when Latine leaders lead with heart and purpose.

CO-ALAS doesn’t just add value to my career, it nourishes my spirit. It reminds me why I lead and who I lead for. Somos parte de algo más grande and I’m proud to be part of this movement that continues to open doors for the next generation of leaders who look like us, sound like us, and lead with the same love for our communities.