Coronda Ziegler Interview

Coronda Ziegler is a candidate for the Poudre School District (PSD) Board, Director District D. She holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in organizational change and has two decades of experience focused on student success and transitions. She is a former residence director and a parent of three PSD students.

Episode Summary

Host Nick Armstrong speaks with Coronda Ziegler about stewardship of PSD resources after the recent mill levy, data-driven decision-making, and shared leadership with teachers, families, and students. Ziegler outlines priorities, including transparent processes, multilingual access to information, building and policy audits for safety and inclusion, and teacher retention through pay and classroom supports. She discusses mental health in terms of students’ “navigational skills” to manage choice and influence. The conversation touches on recent school consolidation debates (communication, access, equity) and statewide student walkouts over school shootings; Ziegler describes school safety as requiring protocols, training, and student voice, and offers a balanced view of SROs alongside counselors and social workers.

Key Takeaways

• Stewardship of mill-levy funds: align spending with facility plans and consolidation decisions; set clear accountability.
• Shared leadership: broaden access beyond typical committees (evening options, multilingual communications, feedback loops).
• Transparency and data: publish baselines by school (culture, programs, outcomes) so decisions are understandable and reviewable.
• Student well-being: emphasize “navigational skills” and practical classroom practices that support mental health.
• Teacher retention: dignified, livable pay; revisit classroom structures (e.g., team teaching), resources, and continuous teacher input.
• Safety: regular policy and building audits, training (e.g., doors/entry practices), and student input; place SROs thoughtfully while strengthening counseling and social work.
• Planning and growth: consider redistricting and layered mapping (population, consolidation, migration) before building new schools, including northern areas (Wellington, Laporte, Red Feather).

Notable Quotes (verbatim)

“I really believe in the power of public education.”

“If you do that process on the front end, then that decision goes over well on the back end.”

“Students are becoming overwhelmed because there are so many choices and so many things that shape and influence.”

“Empathy is what helps us bridge the divide.”

“We govern on policy…instead of ‘we just want to improve our graduation rate,’ by how much?”

Resources / Links

• Candidate site and socials: coronda4psd.com | Instagram/Facebook: @coronda4psd
• Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com/
• Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins