HONORING THE PAST
BUILDING THE PRESENT
INVENTING THE FUTURE
A 100-Day Progress Report to the Rio Rancho Public Schools Community
Dr. Robert W. Dodd, Superintendent
Rio Rancho Public Schools
March 2 – June 9, 2026
A Message to the Community
Dear Rio Rancho Students, Staff, Families, and Community,
When I began serving as superintendent on March 2, I shared a clear roadmap for my first 100 days. I said I would listen carefully. I said I would visit schools. I said I would meet with students, staff, families, Board members, and community partners. I said I would study teaching and learning, student outcomes, special education, staffing, budget, and district systems. I said I would begin identifying priorities for the year ahead. And I said I would report back transparently to the community.
I am pleased to report that we followed that roadmap closely.
The 100-Day Entry Plan was not meant to be symbolic. It was meant to guide how I joined this community, learned from the people who know Rio Rancho Public Schools best, honored the foundation already built, and began preparing the district for its next chapter.
Over these first 100 days, I visited all 21 schools. I met with Board members, district leaders, principals, teachers, support staff, students, families, labor partners, tribal partners, city leaders, legislators, higher education partners, business partners, and community members. I listened to what people want us to protect, where they see strength and need, and what they hope Rio Rancho Public Schools can become.
I also paired that listening with careful study. I reviewed teaching and learning, student outcomes, special education, budget, staffing, programs, vacancies, and organizational structure. I wanted to understand not only what people were experiencing, but what our data, systems, and structures were telling us.
From the beginning, I framed this work around three connected ideas:
Honoring the Past
Building the Present
Inventing the Future
Those words became more meaningful with every school visit, every conversation, and every review of our work.
Rio Rancho Public Schools has a proud and unique legacy. Under Dr. Cleveland’s 32 years of inaugural leadership, this district grew from roughly 6,000 students at its founding in 1994 to more than 16,000 students today, with statewide and national recognition in academics, arts, athletics, and career-technical education. That history matters. It deserves respect. It also creates responsibility.
During the first 100 days, we began building the present by taking concrete steps that show where we are headed:
We completed a district leadership reorganization.
We appointed Renee Saucedo as Chief of Schools and Janna Chenault as Chief Academic Officer, effective July 1, 2026.
We launched the Superintendent Data Summit series.
We created the Cross-Functional Team for Special Education Excellence.
We began shifting from the term “District Office” to “Central Services” to make clear that our role is to serve schools.
We strengthened communications through the Rio Rancho Roundup and regular weekly updates.
We began addressing budget and staffing alignment with honesty and care.
We began defining priorities for the 2026–27 Bridge Year.
We began laying the groundwork for a long-term strategic plan focused on the Class of 2040.
That is ambitious. It should be. Our students deserve ambition matched with focus, discipline, and follow-through.
Thank you for welcoming me into your schools, classrooms, meetings, celebrations, and conversations. I am grateful for what I have learned, proud of what we have started, and ready for the work ahead.
In partnership,
Robert W. Dodd, EdD
Superintendent
Rio Rancho Public School