The Superintendent of Schools is the district's Chief Executive Officer, and by statute administers and supervises the school district and carries out the educational policies and rules of the NM Public Education Department and the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education. She provides overall direction for all district activities, including but not limited to: strategic direction and visioning, teaching, learning, and educational support, management of the district's budget, employment decisions, government and stakeholder relations, requests for information under the state's Open Records laws, communications and media relations, and coordination of board and bond elections.

Dr. Cleveland has consistently provided the leadership and guidance needed to provide a system that prepares students for success in college, career, or military service.

Dr. Sue Cleveland has been Superintendent of the Rio Rancho Public School District since its creation in 1994. During that time, the district has grown from 5,900 to more than 17,000 students, and the district has graduated more than 10,000 students. Dr. Cleveland has seen every one of them cross the stage to collect his or her diploma. The district has been recognized for the quality of its instructional programs, facilities, and outstanding staff, as well as unique partnerships with the New Mexico business community.

Dr. Cleveland began her professional journey in education as a teacher at Mayfield High School in Las Cruces.  She then held teaching and administrative positions in the Deer Park Independent School District near Houston, TX and was Superintendent of Schools in Cherokee County, South Carolina (Charlotte, NC metro area).  She is a graduate of Sandia High School in Albuquerque, holds a B.A. from the University of New Mexico and a M.A. from New Mexico State University, and earned her doctorate at the University of Houston.  

Dr. Cleveland has had the privilege of serving on task forces, boards, and commissions for many state and national organizations.  She a Past President of the New Mexico School Superintendents’ Association and the New Mexico Activities Association.  She is also active in community organizations and is the current Chair-Elect of the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors.  Her many awards and recognitions include being named as an AASA National Superintendent of the Year finalist and as a former recipient of the Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women.  In 2020, Dr. Cleveland was admitted to the New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders (NMCEL) Hall of Fame.

 A team player, Dr. Cleveland credits many other people for their roles in her success, including the strong team of administrators, teachers, and staff at Rio Rancho Public Schools.  She especially acknowledges and appreciates the mentoring, friendship, and support she has received over the years from superintendents and administrators throughout New Mexico.

• B.A., University of New Mexico

• M.A., New Mexico State University

• Ed. D., University of Houston

• Post-graduate work, University of South Carolina.

V. Sue Cleveland, Ed.D. 
Superintendent of Schools

Jacey Oliver
Assistant to the Superintendent

Contact the Superintendent at this email: jacey.oliver@rrps.net