Las Cruces, New Mexico (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday nominated seven candidates to participate in semifinalist interviews in the search for a new superintendent.
Candidates will be selected from a pool of 30 final eligible applicants during a closed session of the Board of Directors on June 9 and will be interviewed in a closed session on Friday and Saturday at the Karen M. Trujillo Dr. Administration Facility. I plan to receive it.
Recommended: Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education Appoints Interim Superintendent
The semi-finalist candidates and their information can be found below.
Dr. Debra Elder He is currently the Interim Superintendent of Los Lunas Schools (LLS). She joined her LLS in 2021 as Chief Academic Officer for Instruction, Accountability and Innovation, tasked with elevating student learning to world-class performance. Prior to joining her LLS, Elder led the Office of Innovation and School Choices for the Albuquerque Public School District. She holds bachelor’s, master’s and education specialist degrees from the University of New Mexico, and she holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Transformation and Leadership Program from the University of Southern California.
Monica Mesa I have been an educator for 31 years and currently serve as Vice Superintendent of East Elementary School in Mesa Public Schools, Arizona’s largest school district, overseeing 26 elementary schools. Throughout her career, she has been an assistant principal, principal, chief coach, and university lecturer. Mesa has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and she is currently pursuing her PhD at Northern Arizona University.
Dr. Fred Montalvo He is currently the Executive Director of Operations for Las Cruces Public Schools. Prior to joining LCPS, he worked as a teacher and coach at Mescalero Apache School and Hatch Valley Public Schools. His management experience includes Camino where he served as Assistant Principal at Real Middle School and Mayfield High School and as Principal at Picacho Middle School. Dr. Montalvo holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in Educational Management. in curriculum and instruction.
Dr. Raul Peña I have been working as an educator for over 20 years. He has been a bilingual classroom teacher, middle school assistant principal, campus principal, and district leader. In 2018, Dr. Peña joined Fort He Martin University. He is a worthy Principal of an Independent School District and currently serves as Chief People Officer responsible for reimagining the district’s recruitment process. He earned his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and attended the Harvard National Institute of Urban Leaders.
Dr. Giovanni Ponce I am currently the Associate Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, where I have spent the last 20 years of my career. He was previously a middle and high school principal in the Houston area, and under his leadership, the campus has seen student progress. His teaching experience includes a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa, a Master’s degree in Educational Management and Supervision from the University of Houston, and a PhD in Public School Management from Texas A&M University.
Cynthia Retana She has spent her 27-year career with the Socorro Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, and the Ector County Independent School District, also in Texas. As Assistant Superintendent and Executive Director, she has spent years overseeing principals and campuses. Prior to that, she served as a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, serving the community as a teacher, counselor, and assistant principal. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso, a Master’s degree in Education and Middle Management from the University of Texas at El Paso, and is currently a doctoral student at Texas A&M Commerce.
Ignacio Ruiz He is the Vice Superintendent of the Clark County School District in Nevada, the fifth largest school district in the nation. He has held several leadership positions, including assistant principal, principal, and trustee. Previously, Lewis held the position of Director of Language Acquisition for the Tucson Unified School District. He is a graduate of the ALAS (Latin Association of Administrators and Supervisors) National Academy of Supervisors and Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy.
The Board will announce candidates who will advance to the Superintendent’s Public Forum on June 22 at 6:00 pm at Organ Mountain High School, followed by a handshake event in the lobby of the OMHS Performing Arts Center.
The Superintendent Public Forum is a moderated question and answer session with input and question recommendations from the Superintendent Search Committee, a volunteer group of students, parents, teachers, administrators and community members.
Final interviews are scheduled to take place behind closed doors on June 29 and 30, with finalists nominated at a public meeting as early as July 1, 2023.
The school board may at any time expand the list to include eligible applicants at the semi-finalist stage.
For more information on the LCPS Supervisor Search, please visit click here.
Recommended: Doña Ana County Commissioner to Revisit Debate on Gadsden ISD School Resource Officer
Sign up to receive the most interesting articles from in and around the community in your inbox once a day.
