Following one year as Woodland Park District RE-2’s superintendent on an interim basis, Ginger Slocum is ready to start her tenure as its permanent leader.

The Courier caught up with Slocum to discuss what brought her to this role and her vision for the district in the months and years ahead.

Slocum’s emailed responses have been lightly edited.

Tell us a bit about your background and career to date before your appointment to this position.

I have spent nearly three decades in public education, beginning as an elementary and middle school teacher for 17 years before moving into school and district leadership. Throughout my educational leadership career, I’ve served as a principal, chief academic officer and now the superintendent of Woodland Park School District, with a consistent focus on improving student achievement, strengthening school culture, developing leaders and building strong partnerships with families and communities. I’ve been fortunate to lead schools and districts through periods of significant growth and change, including earning state and national recognition for academic improvement and school climate.

Prior to becoming superintendent, I served as chief academic officer for Woodland Park School District, where I oversaw curriculum and instruction, principal development, state and federal grants and districtwide professional learning. Before joining Woodland Park, I served as a principal in both Platte Canyon School District and Pueblo City Schools, where I led school improvement efforts focused on academic achievement, STEM education, staff culture and student success. Each step in my career has reinforced my belief that strong relationships, transparent leadership and a relentless focus on students are the foundation of a successful school district.

What made you want to pursue a career in education?

I pursued a career in education because I’ve always had a heart for helping children reach their full potential, regardless of the challenges they face or the path they choose in life. From the very beginning of my career, I’ve believed that every student deserves an adult who believes in them, sets high expectations and provides the support they need to succeed. Whether that means ensuring a third grader learns to read proficiently, preparing a student for college, expanding career and technical education opportunities or helping a student discover their own unique talents, my focus has always been on creating opportunities for every child to thrive.

As my career has progressed from the classroom to school and district leadership, that purpose has never changed. My motivation isn’t just improving test scores or implementing new initiatives — it’s building schools where students feel valued, teachers are empowered to do their best work, and families trust that we’re making decisions in the best interest of children. At the end of the day, I believe education has the power to change lives, strengthen communities and open doors for every student and that’s what continues to inspire me every day.

What brought you to the Pikes Peak region? Why did you decide to stay?

My family moved to Colorado in 2014 with the goal of raising our daughters in a small mountain community where they could experience a close-knit school system, strong community values and the incredible quality of life that Colorado offers. When I was hired as the principal of Columbine Elementary in 2019, we were truly excited to make Woodland Park our home. It was exactly the kind of community we had been hoping to find.

Since then, Woodland Park has become much more than the place where I work — it’s where my family has built our life. My husband teaches at the Woodland Park Jr./Sr. High School, and both of our daughters have attended Woodland Park schools. Our oldest graduated a few years ago and is now attending college out of state while playing college basketball, and our youngest began attending Columbine Elementary School in fifth grade and is now a senior at the Jr./Sr. High School. We’ve experienced this district not only as educators, but also as parents and that perspective has strengthened my commitment to serving this community. We chose to stay because we believe deeply in Woodland Park, its people, and its future and we feel incredibly fortunate to call it home.

What are some of your past accomplishments and/or moments that you’re most proud of to date?

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to be part of several meaningful accomplishments, but what I’m most proud of is helping schools and districts improve by investing in people and building trust. That work contributed to significant academic growth and earned the school the Colorado Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award. Earlier in my career, while serving as principal of Fitzsimmons Middle School in Platte Canyon School District, the school received the John Irwin School of Excellence Award in 2016-2017 and again in 2019, along with the Colorado Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award in 2016–2017. More recently, during my tenure as interim superintendent, Summit Elementary was recognized with the Colorado Blue Ribbon Award, reflecting the outstanding work of the school’s staff and students. I’m also proud to have helped restore stability during a challenging time by rebuilding trust with staff and the community, strengthening financial transparency, updating district safety plans and recovering more than $500,000 in grant funding to support our students.

Beyond the awards, I’m most proud of building leadership capacity and creating systems that continue to benefit students long after I’ve moved into a new role. Whether implementing innovative STEM programs, establishing principal and teacher induction programs, mentoring school leaders or leading districtwide curriculum and instructional improvement, my goal has always been to leave schools stronger than I found them. Seeing students succeed, teachers thrive and communities regain confidence in their schools is the accomplishment that means the most to me.

Why do you suppose you were selected as the district’s next superintendent?

I believe the Board selected me because I am deeply invested in this community and its future. Woodland Park isn’t just where I work — it’s our home. My husband is a teacher in the district, and both of our daughters attended Woodland Park schools. Our oldest is now in college, and our youngest is a senior at the Jr./Sr. High School. As both an educator and a parent, I’ve built strong, trusting relationships with many of the families we serve and understand this district from multiple perspectives. Most importantly, I strive to keep our students and staff at the heart of every decision, leading with transparency, collaboration and a commitment to doing what’s best for kids.

What are Woodland Park District RE-2’s greatest strengths as you begin your tenure as its superintendent?

Our greatest strength is our people. Woodland Park is fortunate to have dedicated teachers, talented staff, supportive families, engaged community members and students who are capable of extraordinary things. There is a genuine commitment throughout the district to helping every child succeed, and that shared sense of purpose provides a strong foundation for continued growth. Another strength is the unique character of our community. Woodland Park is a close-knit mountain town where relationships matter, and our schools are an important part of the community’s identity. We also offer outstanding opportunities for students through strong academics, career and technical education, athletics, fine arts and extracurricular activities. As we continue working together, I believe we have an opportunity to build on these strengths while creating even more opportunities for students to thrive.

What are the biggest challenges the district specifically faces? What about public education in general?

Like many school districts across Colorado and the nation, we face challenges related to student enrollment and school funding. We also have a responsibility to ensure that every student receives the academic and well-rounded support they need to be successful in an increasingly complex world. One of the broader challenges in public education is maintaining public trust while meeting the diverse needs and expectations of our communities. Schools are asked to do more than ever before, and it’s important that we remain focused on our core mission of educating students while maintaining open communication and strong partnerships with families. I believe these challenges also present opportunities to innovate, strengthen relationships and continue demonstrating the tremendous value that public education brings to our communities.

What are your short-term goals for the school district? What about long-term?

In the short term, my priorities are to continue building trust, support our teachers and staff, maintain a safe and welcoming learning environment and ensure we remain focused on high-quality instruction in every classroom. A major focus will be leading the implementation of our newly adopted strategic plan by working alongside our staff, board of education, families and community to bring its goals and key initiatives to life. I also want to continue strengthening communication with families and the community so people feel informed, heard and confident in the direction of the district.

Long-term, my goal is to ensure Woodland Park School District is recognized as one of the premier school districts in Colorado — a district known for academic excellence, outstanding educators, innovative opportunities, strong fiscal stewardship, and a culture where every student is prepared for success after graduation, whether that path leads to college, the military, technical training or the workforce. By remaining focused on implementing our strategic plan and continually evaluating our progress, I want us to build on our strengths, create even more opportunities for students and ensure our graduates leave Woodland Park with the knowledge, skills, character and confidence to pursue their dreams and positively impact their communities.

What do you intend to bring to this role?

I intend to bring steady, student-centered leadership built on integrity, transparency and collaboration. I believe the best decisions are made by listening to others, working together to solve problems and always keeping students at the heart of the conversation. My goal is to create an environment where teachers feel supported, students feel valued, families feel connected and our community feels proud of its schools.

I also bring a deep understanding of this district and a personal investment in its success. As both an educator and a parent of Woodland Park graduates and students, I understand the importance of providing every child with an exceptional educational experience. I’m committed to building on the great work already taking place, celebrating successes, addressing challenges with honesty and leading with optimism as we continue preparing every student for a successful future.