New superintendent takes reins at LCPS

“The man lives and breathes community, so I thought he would be a good fit for Las Cruces,” Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education President Teresa Tenorio said about Ignacio Ruiz, who became the new LCPS superintendent Aug. 2.

The board voted unanimously July 1 to hire Ruiz to replace Ralph Ramos, who retired after more than two years leading LCPS, which has about 24,000 students in 40 schools in Las Cruces, Mesilla, Doña Ana and on White Sands Missile Range. The district has approximately 3,400 employees.

Ruiz had been an assistant superintendent for the Clark County School District (CCSD) in Nevada. CCSD includes Las Vegas and, with more than 300,000 students, is the fifth largest school district in the United States.

“He did amazing work there,” Tenorio said of Ruiz’s tenure at CCSD, including opening a parent engagement center.

“Hearing him speak, he often mentions ‘the kids,’ ‘the kiddos,” Tenorio said about Ruiz. “I think he’s very warm and genuine.”

Ruiz, who is bilingual, is a strong communicator and relationship builder who will work well with LCPS’ ELL (English Language Learner) community, Tenorio said. Ruiz oversaw CCSD’s English-language learning division.

LCPS students “can see themselves reflected in him,” board member Patrick Nolan said. “He speaks Spanish; he grew up in the Southwest.”

Nolan said he expects Ruiz to “build connections with students and parents.”

Ruiz had a “really impressive track record” at CCSD, Nolan said.

“Superintendent Ruiz is very student-centered,” said board member Pamela Cort. “I love that his roots are in the Southwest and that he started public school as an English learner. Because of this shared experience, Mr. Ruiz has with many of our LCPS students, I know he will help to provide multiple opportunities for ALL students to succeed. He is innovative, genuine, and honest. We are so fortunate to have him as our superintendent!”

“I am excited to welcome Ignacio Ruiz to Las Cruces,” said board member Bob Wofford. “He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge as a former teacher and now administrator. When he described his experience as an elementary bilingual teacher early in his early career, and his recent work in administration helping students find pathways to success, l could sense the connections that he has made throughout his career, and I am hopeful that our community will work with him to create opportunities for our students.”

Before working at CCSD, Ruiz served as director of language acquisition in the Tucson (Arizona) Unified School District. He is a graduate of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents National Superintendent Academy and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown.

“My passion is quality and equitable education for all,” Ruiz said on his linkedin.com site, where he also said he “truly believe(s) that academic success should be an opportunity for every student regardless of their economic, cultural, ethnic or social background and am committed to ensuring that every student has that opportunity.”

Public appearance

The community has a chance to hear Ruiz speak Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce In the Know Luncheon at noon at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road. For information about the luncheon, contact the chamber at 575-524-1968 or carmijo@lascruces.org.