Rio Rancho Schools Names Eight Finalists for Vacant Board Seat

Ramon Montaño has led a school board before, twice. The assistant head varsity basketball coach at Rio Rancho High School and Joe Harris Elementary parent previously served as board president for both Rio Rancho Public Schools and the Las Vegas, New Mexico, school system. He is now one of eight District 4 finalists named Friday to fill the seat vacated March 9 when Dr. Beth Miller stepped down citing health concerns.

Miller, who had represented District 4 since her November 2023 election and served as board secretary, left the governing body short a member. Board President Amanda Galbraith now leads a four-person board alongside Seth Muller of District 1, Michael Berry of District 3 and Rebecca Murray of District 5. All eight finalists will be interviewed during consecutive public meetings April 7-9, after which the board will deliberate and announce a selection in open session.

The finalist slate covers a wide range of credentials. Ranee Cervania has administered programs spanning elementary, secondary and higher education. Richard Bruce previously held roles as executive director of information technology and chief operations officer. Glenn Walters, a retired Air Force veteran, served as a Sandoval County commissioner, a New Mexico House of Representatives staffer and deputy cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Public Education Department. Stephanie Smith taught at Rio Rancho High School before moving to Albuquerque Charter Academy. Jessica Schoder is both a current RRPS parent and a former district employee. Don Rush, a retired sales executive, served in the U.S. Army and earned three Bronze Stars. Thomas Tozier currently works for the City of Albuquerque as a liaison to Mayor Tim Keller, with earlier stints at the U.S. Forest Service and in the Army.

District 4 covers northeast Rio Rancho neighborhoods, including those served by Lincoln Middle School, which the board identified as a community anchor when evaluating applicants for fit with local priorities.

The April sessions are open to the public under standard public-meeting rules, giving District 4 residents three consecutive opportunities to observe the candidates and speak during comment periods before a vote is taken. The person chosen will serve through December 2027 and will need to decide whether to seek election to retain the seat beyond that date.

The board is simultaneously working through budget decisions affecting teacher contracts and instructional materials, community discussions about school safety protocols and ongoing enrollment pressures. Whoever takes the District 4 seat will inherit all of it at once.