Jill Cordova Named 2026 MUSD Exempt Employee of the Year!
Jill Cordova Named 2026 MUSD Exempt Employee of the Year!
Jill Cordova, Elementary Literacy Coordinator, has been named Marana Unified School District’s 2026 Exempt Employee of the Year. With over 17 years of service to the district, Jill’s leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact on students, staff, and school communities across MUSD.
In December 2021, Winter Reading Benchmark data revealed a critical need for improving literacy rates of students in grades K–3. Jill immediately stepped forward to lead a districtwide literacy transformation, going well beyond her role to help change the trajectory of student outcomes. She spearheaded the adoption of a new elementary reading and writing curriculum, built school-based literacy teams, convened literacy summits, and mentored teachers and leaders through meaningful instructional change.
Jill’s leadership is both personal and responsive. Understanding that meaningful change requires collaboration, she has modeled strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to maximize impact. As a member of the Read-On Pima collaborative, she works to spread and scale best practices across Pima County, partnering with leaders from Literacy Connects, Make Way for Books, and the United Way Cradle to Career Partnership to bring valuable resources, training, and support to our district.
Since 2021, literacy rates have improved. MUSD has seen a 63% increase in students meeting or exceeding reading benchmarks across four grade levels. For the first time since the Move On When Reading legislation, zero third-grade students were retained due to reading deficiencies. Last year alone, 353 additional students moved into the meeting or exceeding range.
Beyond literacy leadership, Jill is a constant presence in schools, supporting new teachers, assisting with school operations, volunteering at events, and serving as an administrative designee when needed. She collaborates with countywide partners to bring best practices, resources, and family engagement initiatives to MUSD, extending literacy beyond the classroom and into students’ homes.
The impact Jill Cordova has had on the Educational Services Department and the entire district is extraordinary.
Congratulations to MUSD’s 2026 Exempt Employee of the Year, and thank you, Jill, for being a tireless champion for our students and staff.