Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero has applied for a job leading Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida, he confirmed via a statement Thursday.
“This is not a decision I made lightly and is not one intended to diminish or disregard the great success we’ve shared in DPS during my tenure,” Marrero said. “…This decision comes after thoughtful reflection on several personal and professional considerations.”
Marrero is one of 21 people who applied for the job, according to the Miami Herald, which first reported that the Denver superintendent was seeking the position. The contract of Miami’s current superintendent, José Dotres, who made $370,000 a year when he was hired, ends in February, according to the newspaper.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, with more than 385,000 students, is a much larger district than DPS, which had 89,210 pupils during the 2025-26 academic year.
The DPS Board of Education hired Marrero in 2021 and he now makes at least $346,529 a year. At the time of his hiring, a group of Latino leaders expressed concern about Marrero’s appointment to lead Colorado’s largest K-12 district, including whether he understood the American West and Chicano culture.
But past and present board members have defended Marrero, who is Afro-Latino and bilingual — traits they said were positives in a district where more than half of the students are Latino.
The board also stood behind Marrero as he has taken on the Trump administration, including by suing to prevent federal immigration raids in schools.
But Marrero has found himself in disputes with board members as well as city officials during his time in Denver on issues related to school closures and armed police in schools.
In November, Marrero was considered a finalist to become Chicago Public Schools’ next CEO. After news reports circulated that Marrero was up for the job, the superintendent did not deny the claim but expressed that he remained dedicated to DPS.
Marrero expressed similar sentiments in his statement Thursday regarding his candidacy for the Miami job.
“Regardless of the outcome of the Miami-Dade superintendent selection, my commitment to leading Denver Public Schools, our students, staff, families and the important work ahead remains unchanged,” he said. “My focus continues to be on successfully closing out this school year, preparing for the year ahead, and ensuring stability and continuity in service of our shared priorities to continue to advance the district.”
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