A.J. Romero, the assistant principal at Garden Place Academy in downtown Denver, plays a significant part in managing student behavior and implementing supportive strategies. Her role encompasses assisting with autism programs and mentoring educators.
“My mission is clear: to support students who need it most,” A.J. stated. “I will always be the person who finds fulfillment in being there for others.”
Raised by a single mother and influenced by her grandmother, Bea Romero, A.J. was deeply rooted in her upbringing. “My grandmother was everything to me,” she remembered, emphasizing her grandmother’s daily presence during her childhood.
Sports offered A.J. a steady influence as she excelled in basketball, softball, and baseball, despite limited resources. The La Alma Recreation Center and the YMCA provided her access to sports programs.
JFK High School, where she attended outside her neighborhood, was a transformative experience for her. “It changed my world,” she said, with Harry Mosley, a basketball coach, serving as a lasting inspiration. A.J. eventually took over his coaching position, furthering his legacy.
Entering high school, A.J. played varsity sports and decided to teach kids about sports from age 13, giving back to her community through coaching.
Upon earning her degrees in Colorado, A.J. coached various school basketball teams. However, financial difficulties led her to a paraeducator job at Smith Elementary School, where many families faced significant hardships. At Smith, she quickly became a restorative justice coordinator, recognizing the support she received throughout her life.
A.J. organized festivals and coordinated enrichment programs to address students’ social-emotional needs and help families feel welcome. As she advanced to dean of students and later to assistant principal, her responsibilities expanded to encompass special education management and promoting school culture.
Today, A.J. continues to address similar student needs at Garden Place Academy. “No matter where I am or where I land, I will always advocate for students in need and connect them with resources to help them realize their potential,” she said.
Reflecting on education’s current state, she acknowledged its difficulties: “There are so many initiatives that often shift before they are fully implemented,” she explained. “And in low-performing schools, it’s hard to agree on the best way to achieve high standards and provide the right social-emotional supports.”
A.J. has become active in the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, seeing unions as essential for addressing concerns and fostering supportive environments.
On a personal level, she has achieved a work-life balance, no longer coaching after 16 years, which allows her to support her sons, Liam and Blake. A.J. and her wife, Lindsay, an assistant principal, have settled in Henderson with their sons and service dog, Nova. “Nova is the calmest dog you could ever meet,” she shared.
Through her professional journey and family life, A.J. aims to “embody the values of perseverance, service, and advocacy.”
