Roaring Fork School District Superintendent Anna Cole received her annual review during a special online meeting on Oct. 15. 

The RFSD school board discussed their final findings during their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, backing up their support with community data. 

“Dr. Anna Cole has demonstrated steady, thoughtful, and resilient leadership during a period of significant transition and challenge for the district,” a staff memo detailing the board’s review reads. “She continues to grow into her role as superintendent with increasing confidence, balance, and strategic clarity. 

Her leadership is consistently grounded in the district’s five-year strategic plan, which she references as both a compass and a communication tool for aligning priorities, decision-making, and accountability,” the memo continued. “Even in times of public criticism or financial strain, Dr. Cole has remained focused on the district’s vision for student success and the systems necessary to achieve it.”

The memo, available to the public on the Roaring Fork Schools website, details an anonymous survey that was available to the community Sept. 16 – Oct. 3, that received over 400 responses, and the results were “overwhelmingly positive.” Board members spoke on the executive session during Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

“I want to recognize the survey data and the constituents who took the survey,” board member Kenny Teitler said during the meeting. “The results are overwhelmingly positive, both in the multiple choice option and the comments below. I think it’s a testament to the great job you’re doing within all the different groupings of our valleys. From our district, teachers, staff, parents, and students, you were very well received and as a board we’re all very appreciative of the job you’re doing.”

Out of 426 respondents, 56% were parents, and 13% were students. Questions topics ranged from safety, to district vision and support, to retaining employees, and ensuring student achievements. Out of the eight questions, Cole’s lowest “approval rating” was 68%. 

“The memo tells a very clear story, with almost every category coming in at more than 75%,” board member Lindsay DeFrates said. “None of us behind this table have ever had the experience of operational day-to-day leadership for an organization like this school district. Our job is to hold you accountable to what we believe is most important, and your willingness to accept that, and apply it day after day and challenge yourself is very appreciated.”

Although the majority of the superintendent review was positive, there is always room to grow, according to the board. The memo pointed out where they would like to see improvement in Cole and her leadership. 

The areas the board pointed out include:

• Accelerating efforts to close persistent achievement gaps, particularly for multilingual learners and latino students. 
• Expanding engagement with Spanish-speaking families and diverse community partners. 
• Continuing to plan proactively for declining enrollment and financial challenges. 
• Strengthening systems of instructional leadership to ensure consistent progress across all schools.

“We were able to have a deep conversation in executive session last week to go over the qualities we really appreciate in your leadership, as well as the places we’d like to continue to push the district,” board vice president Betsy After said. “We saw your adherence and consistent drive to the strategic plan over and over again tonight, and we see it literally every day we work with you, which helps give us faith in your vision for the district.”

The next regularly scheduled RFSD board meeting will take place on Nov. 12 at the Carbondale District Office at 400 Sopris Ave.