Gallup-McKinley Board Unanimously Appoints Jvanna Hanks Interim Superintendent Effective March 2

The Gallup‑McKinley County Schools Board of Education voted unanimously 5-0 at its February 26, 2026 meeting to appoint Deputy Superintendent Jvanna L. Hanks II as Interim Superintendent, with the appointment effective March 2, 2026, the district announced in a press release dated March 2. Board President Kevin Mitchell called the vote a unified decision intended to provide stability and a clear vision during the district’s leadership transition.

“We are excited to have reached a unanimous consensus on this appointment,” Mitchell said in the district release. “The Board’s unified support for Ms. Hanks reflects our collective confidence in her ability to provide stability and clear vision during this transition. Our priority is maintaining the highest standards of excellence for our students, staff, and community.”

Hanks most recently served as Deputy Superintendent for GMCS and has been with the district since 2002. GMCS materials describe her experience as “over 23 years” in one release and “more than 22 years” in her staff profile; the profile notes she joined GMCS in 2002 and advanced from entry-level business office roles to executive leadership during that tenure. In the press release Hanks said, “I am honored to receive support from the Board,” and added, “I look forward to collaborating with our dedicated educators and engaging with our families to ensure a successful and productive school year for every student.”

District documents and Hanks’ GMCS profile list a series of specific responsibilities and accomplishments tied to her leadership: integrating fiscal strategy with instructional priorities, advocacy for equitable school finance, playing a key role in legislative and legal efforts that corrected Impact Aid crediting, and helping secure increased funding statewide through the Yazzie/Martinez education case. The profile also highlights her work expanding resources for at-risk students and supporting College, Career, and Civic Readiness and early-college pathways. Hanks serves in statewide leadership for the New Mexico Association of School Business Officials and is listed as serving a current term as President. Her education includes a Master of Public Administration and a summa cum laude bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico.

The Gallup Sun reported that an earlier board meeting on Nov. 17 saw four members present affirm a vote to promote Hanks “as the next superintendent once current Superintendent Mike Hyatt retires,” and that Kevin Mitchell and Priscilla Benally were elected board president and vice president at that meeting. The Sun account also noted that Mitchell and Benally were to remain on the board when three other seats were filled by new members sworn in on Jan. 26. A Gallup Sun excerpt praised Hanks’ local and statewide experience and concluded, “She’s well experienced, well respected, and probably most importantly, she’s a good person who cares about the district, cares about her community, and cares about kids,” the paper reported, attributing the line in the excerpt to “he said.”

The GMCS press release does not list an end date or term length for the interim appointment, and it does not specify a retirement date for Superintendent Mike Hyatt. For district business, Gallup‑McKinley County Schools is located at 640 S. Boardman, Gallup, NM 87301; the district phone number is (505) 721-1000 and fax is (505) 721-1199. The interim appointment takes effect March 2, 2026, as the district moves into the next phase of its leadership transition.