Cobre Consolidated Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Verenice Gutierrez as the district's new Superintendent, effective June 15, 2026. Below, is a brief biography of her educational leadership and deep commitment to student success. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Gutierrez to the Cobre Family.
Dr. Verenice Gutierrez is a transformative educational leader who has spent three decades
dismantling barriers and architecting excellence for students. Born and raised in El Paso,
Texas, Dr. Gutierrez has dedicated her career to the unapologetic and unequivocal belief
that every decision in education must begin and end with the student. A graduate of both
the University of Texas at El Paso and New Mexico State University, Dr. Gutierrez’s journey
from a 2nd-grade teacher in the Gadsden School District to a senior executive is marked by
a consistent track record of high-stakes success.
Most recently, she served as the iConnect Zone Superintendent in District 49 (Colorado
Springs), where she spearheaded the district’s highest-achieving zone, overseeing 13
schools and a diverse population of 17,000 students. Under her leadership, two of her
schools achieved the prestigious "School of Distinction" status. Dr. Gutierrez is widely
recognized as a "turnaround specialist," having twice led underperforming schools in two
different states from the bottom of state rankings to the top. Through her strategic
intervention, these schools achieved double-digit gains in both academic achievement
and growth in a single year, setting a new standard for instructional excellence.
Throughout her career, spanning roles as a Bilingual Educator, Principal, Director, Chief
Academic Officer of LEEP Dual Language Academies, and Assistant Superintendent—her
mission has remained steadfast: creating equitable, high-performing environments where
students don't just succeed, but thrive. When she isn’t championing educational equity, Dr.
Gutierrez and her husband are devoted supporters of their five nephews and two nieces.
They are also enthusiastic fans of the Las Vegas Raiders and dedicated "paw-rents" to their
beloved fur babies: George Strait, a Basset Hound, and Maxx Crosby, a Beagle.