At a special meeting Oct. 3, 2025, the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education approved a five-stage timeline for hiring a new superintendent, set a salary range of $245,000 to $265,000 and approved an advertising strategy aimed at diverse educator groups. The board also adopted a revised position description that requires the superintendent to reside within the Rio Rancho Public Schools district.

The timeline approved by the board lays out five stages, beginning with stakeholder outreach and concluding with finalist interviews and naming a candidate before the winter break. "We went through a five-stage suggested timeline," Board member Jessica Tyler said, outlining dates for stakeholder input, surveys, application deadlines and interview weeks.

The plan calls for stakeholder input meetings Oct. 15–16, an online survey open Oct. 6–19, and a review of survey results by the board and Ray and Associates on Oct. 20. The application window for candidates will open after an online promotional release, with applications due Nov. 23. The board plans first-round interviews the week of Dec. 9, finalist interviews the week of Dec. 12 and a public announcement of the chosen candidate about a week later, with the goal of completing the process before the Christmas break.

Board members voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve the timeline, the salary range and the advertising strategy. "We will be making some minor tweaks to that timeline," Tyler said. "Once that's finalized, we will be able to post it so that it's open to the general public." Kathy Schoenfelder of Ray and Associates told the board the timeline document would be available quickly: "You'll have it by Monday." The board asked staff to post the timeline on the district website for community access.

On pay, the board approved a salary range for the new superintendent of $245,000 to $265,000. The motion to set the range was made by Board member Jessica Tyler and seconded by Vice President Jeff Morgan; the motion carried 5-0.

The board approved an advertising strategy that includes two packages (referred to in materials as package A and package C) proposed by Ray and Associates. The plan calls for outreach through national and affinity organizations, including the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the National Association of School Superintendents, the National Alliance of Black School Educators, the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and outreach to Native American communities.

Lauren Hatch presented the position description prepared by staff and noted a key minimum-qualification change: candidates must be eligible to obtain a New Mexico administrative license for a superintendent. Hatch summarized educational expectations included in the description: a master’s degree in education, educational leadership or a related field is required; a doctorate is strongly preferred. The board discussed and agreed to change the wording on residency from "willingness to permanently reside" to a requirement that the superintendent "must permanently reside within the boundaries of the Rio Rancho Public Schools District." The board approved the revised job description by motion, 5-0.

The board noted the search schedule is subject to change if there are delays but expressed confidence in proceeding with Ray and Associates. Board members also suggested adding major superintendent-search events to the board’s advanced planning calendar so the process will be revisited at future meetings.

No public comments were taken at the special meeting. The board covered the search-related items relatively quickly; staff said the timeline and related documents will be posted online so the community can follow opportunities for input.