Ignacio Ruiz Superintendent of Las Cruces Public Schools | Official Website
Ignacio Ruiz Superintendent of Las Cruces Public Schools | Official Website
The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education has shortlisted seven candidates for the position of superintendent. These semifinalists were selected from a pool of 30 applicants during a closed session on June 9, 2023. Interviews will be conducted in private on June 16 and 17 at the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex.
The semifinalists are Dr. Debra Elder, Monica Mesa, Dr. Fred Montalvo, Dr. Raul Peña, Dr. Geovanny Ponce, Cynthia Retana, and Ignacio Ruiz.
Dr. Debra Elder currently serves as interim superintendent at Los Lunas Schools (LLS). She joined LLS in 2021 as Chief Academic Officer of Instruction, Accountability and Innovation with the goal to improve student learning outcomes. Previously, she led the Office of Innovation and School Choice in Albuquerque Public Schools.
Monica Mesa has been an educator for over three decades and is now Assistant Superintendent of East Elementary Schools in Mesa Public Schools, Arizona's largest school district.
Dr. Fred Montalvo is Executive Director of Operations for Las Cruces Public Schools with prior experience as a teacher and coach at Mescalero Apache Schools and Hatch Valley Public Schools.
Dr. Raul Peña has worked in education for more than twenty years and is currently Chief Talent Officer at Ft. Worth Independent School District.
Dr. Geovanny Ponce holds the position of Assistant Superintendent at Houston Independent School District where he has spent much of his career improving student achievement.
Cynthia Retana's career spans 27 years across Socorro Independent School District and Ector County Independent School District in Texas.
Ignacio Ruiz is an assistant superintendent for Clark County School District in Nevada, which ranks as the fifth largest school district nationwide.
After initial interviews on June 16-17, selected candidates will participate in a public forum on June 22 at Organ Mountain High School followed by a meet-and-greet session.
Final interviews are scheduled for June 29-30 with an announcement expected by July 1, 2023.
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