RRPS board approves superintendent qualities, promo flyer

RIO RANCHO — Following the review of community survey results during its Oct. 20 meeting, , the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education agreed on the qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent and approved a promotional flyer for the position.

The approval came during the second meeting devoted exclusively to the superintendent search, which was initiated last month following Dr. Sue Cleveland’s announcement that she intends to retire in the spring.

The meeting came at the conclusion of an online survey, open Oct. 6-19, for district and community stakeholders, as well as several public forums, conducted Oct. 15-16, by the firm Ray & Associates, hired to assist the board in the search. Those meetings were in addition to ones held separately with students, teachers, union members, as well as tribal and government leaders.

The promotional flyer — published in order to attract a pool of candidates nationwide — included the top 10 qualities out of 31 that community members said in the survey that the next superintendent should embody. The flyer included three other qualities that the board thought were ideal because they were ranked high in the survey.

The 10 approved superintendent qualities include that the individual must have K-12 classroom experience, be able to enhance student performance, promote a professional environment, and work with lawmakers.

The three other qualities include experience in recruiting and retaining staff, developing goals, and a commitment to academic and extracurricular programs.

“These were our top qualities, and as a board, we felt these are the ones we would like to adopt as we go forward in this process,” RRPS Board President Amanda Galbraith said during the meeting.

Kathy Schoenfelder, coordinator of leadership acquisition with the firm, noted to board members during the meeting that “no quality is more important than the other.”

The flyer and application instructions were according to the superintendent search website. The deadline to apply for the position is Nov. 23. “Probably right at the end, we’ll see the most come in,” Galbraith said.

Top candidates will be selected by Dec. 4 before first-round interviews Dec. 8-9, the search website said. Finalists will participate in second-round interviews Dec. 15-17. Board members will meet in executive session to consider their choice for superintendent, but a date for selection is to be determined, the website said.