Incoming RRPS leader shares vision for school district

RIO RANCHO — A newcomer to New Mexico, Dr. Robert "Robby" Dodd loves the fact that the Sandia Mountains are always on the horizon when he wakes up every morning.

But those mountains — which gets their name from the Spanish word for "watermelon" — carries a more profound meaning for the longtime Maryland school administrator who is about to become Rio Rancho Public Schools' next superintendent. For Dodd, the Sandias serve both as a "reference point in your daily life" and as a metaphor for his new leadership role, which he will assume on March 1.

"The superintendency is very much like what the Sandia Mountains provide us. The superintendent should always be a highly effective leader that provides students, staff and community members with that reference point of where we're going and what's on the horizon," Dodd said. 

His comments come ahead of his start date, in which he will become only the second superintendent in RRPS history, succeeding Dr. Sue Cleveland, who founded the school district in 1994. Dodd traveled to Rio Rancho this month to shadow Cleveland and find a place to live.

Cleveland said her observations of Dodd have been positive, and the two are working toward a smooth transition. The plan involves Dodd visiting in January and February before assuming the role, at which point Cleveland will advise Dodd for several weeks before he fully takes the reins on April 1.

Does he feel pressure being only the second superintendent? The answer is yes — but it's "positive pressure," Dodd said. 

Dodd's priorities

Dodd is drafting a "100-day entry plan," and the information he collects to from it will be shared with the school board and the public.

The plan will involve Dodd visiting all 21 RRPS institutions and asking stakeholders within those schools — including students and parents — about the school district.

"When I report to the board and the greater community about what I've learned after 100 days, it will include information about the state of the school district," Dodd said, adding such a plan is not uncommon among new superintendents.

The information will be used, in part, to craft a strategic plan, which would include Dodd's "Seven Keys to Success" that he outlined to the public last month. The "Seven Keys" will help prepare the Class of 2040 for graduation and beyond, according to Dodd. 

He views the 2026-27 school year as a "bridge year" that the school board, Dodd and his team will work on to "build the present" before they look to "inventing the future." Those, too, are phrases he sounded during his town hall meetings last month.

"What do data, evidence and community input tell us about where we need to go with a strategic plan?" Dodd said. "Right now, Rio Rancho is operating under highly effective leadership, and I think as part of looking to the future and inventing the future, we'll work collaboratively (on a strategic plan)."

Similar to his "Seven Keys" plan, the word "collaboration" is a key word for Dodd. It's how he intends to address any changes he might make to RRPS in taking the reins from Cleveland. 

"As I learn about the system and talk to stakeholders, I think that they will share areas that they really value about RRPS ... and I'm fairly confident they will share things with me that they think need to be improved," Dodd said. "Oftentimes, improving things require change. I'm a big believer that change requires collaboration and transparency. Those are two key things that I will employ."

There is so much more that Dodd wants to accomplish than just visionary plans. He wants to develop principals as leaders, work to improve teachers' ability to teach, and improve student outcomes.

"I like to say if students, teachers, staff and parents don't see me in schools, then I am not doing my job," Dodd said. "A lot of time will not be at Laser (Road, in the district office). A lot of my time will be out in the field."

He also wants to make sure students excel inside and outside the classroom.

"Everything from games to chorus concerts, those are all things I will be engaged in as (Rio Rancho schools) superintendent," Dodd said. "I want to show my support for that — but I also enjoy that."

He plans to meet with the school board's three new members: Seth Muller, Rebecca Murray and Michael Berry in the near future.

Lending an ear

Dodd said he is in "full gear" learning as much about the school district as he can.

This learning involves listening to meetings with stakeholders ranging from the school union president to officials with the city of Rio Rancho.

When Dodd sits down with stakeholders — as he did at City Hall with Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, for example — the incoming superintendent typically asks a few of the same questions, including, "What is your most important expectation for the superintendent?"

Surprisingly, stakeholders' answers to that question have mostly been the same, according to Dodd. 

"The answer typically centers on ... the exceptional leadership of Dr. Cleveland, the high standards I have to meet as superintendent, and the importance of me ... listening as much as I can to learn and build trust," Dodd said. 

Hull confirmed he met with Dodd, who seemed excited and enthusiastic about leading RRPS. Their conversation was "extremely positive," and Dodd is looking forward to working with stakeholders, according to Hull.

The mayor noted that Dodd has "big shoes to fill" from Cleveland, to which the incoming superintendent responded, "'Yeah, I'm getting that from everybody," according to Hull.