CDE Field Trips - 6/13/25: Commissioner's Chat with Aguilar Superintendent Justin Cowan

Commissioner Susana Córdova talks with Aguilar Reorganized School District 6's Superintendent Justin Cowan about how the district is engaging students and improving attendance.

Timestamps: 

• 02:01 – Addressing Chronic Absenteeism
  Cowan shares how the district reconnected with students post-COVID through personal outreach and relationship-building.

• 02:58 – Restoring Student Traditions
  Bringing back homecoming, prom, and parades to rebuild school pride and community connection.

• 03:48 – Celebrating Student Talent
  Talent shows and student-led performances give kids space to showcase their gifts and feel valued.

• 04:42 – Reviving Athletics
  Reintroducing sports to strengthen school identity, teamwork, and engagement.

• 07:06 – Joy as a Foundation for Learning
  Cowan explains how a joyful school culture lays the groundwork for attendance and academic success.

• 09:41 – Supporting Behavior with Compassion
  A restorative, schoolwide approach to discipline rooted in the “7 Habits” and logical consequences.

• 12:00 – Experiential Learning Trips
  Shifting from “field trips” to “experiential learning” repositions outings as essential learning experiences, increasing attendance.

• 16:04 – Student Leadership and Voice
  Creating opportunities for students to lead and shape school culture deepens engagement.

In the small southern Colorado town of Aguilar, Superintendent Justin Cowan is proving that joy and connection can be powerful drivers of student success. In this Commissioner's chat, Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova sat down with Aguilar Reorganized School District 6's Superintendent Cowan to learn how a renewed school culture is improving attendance and academic performance.

With only 127 students, the district improved its chronic absenteeism rate to 14.4% in 2023-24 compared to 32.2% in 2022-23. Its daily attendance rate was 93% in 2023-24 compared to 91.7% in 2022-23.  

“When kids see themselves in their school—on the walls, in our songs, in our announcements—they feel like they belong,” Cowan shared. From reinstating homecoming and prom to creating a staff talent show and daily cheerful announcements, Cowan and his team have built a place where students feel seen and valued. That’s translated into better attendance and stronger academic engagement.

Aguilar’s transformation also includes focused instructional work, like daily “WIN” time (What I Need) to meet every student where they are in math. “You can’t perform unless the culture is there first,” Cowan said. And it’s working: the district moved from turnaround to performance status in just a few years.

Commissioner Córdova summed it up best: “This isn’t about fluff. It’s about building the kind of community where kids and teachers can truly thrive.”