Marquez Among Four Executive Director Finalists

The New Mexico Activities Association took another step in its search for a new leader.

The NMAA on Thursday announced its four finalists for the executive director post that was vacated last month by Gary Tripp, who held the post since 2004.

Sally Marquez, the NMAA’s assistant executive director under Tripp who has been serving as one of three staffers overseeing operations on an interim basis since Tripp resigned, is one of the four finalists.

She has been on staff with the NMAA since 2004, joining the organization when Tripp was hired. She is a former administrator with the Rio Rancho Public Schools district (1998-2004) and has logged many years coaching and teaching in New Mexico, Texas and Virginia.

Albuquerque Public Schools athletic director Kenny Barreras also made the final four.

He has been APS’ AD for the past eight years, and he also was a longtime coach and administrator at several Albuquerque high schools (Manzano, La Cueva, Albuquerque). He has more than 25 years in APS.

The third finalist is Manuel Calderon, the principal at the Desiderata Alternative Program in Phoenix. He, like Marquez and Barreras, has strong ties to New Mexico.

He served as a coach, teacher and administrator at Carlsbad, Cibola, Valley and Rio Rancho High Schools from 1993-2000. He has served in various administrative capacities in Arizona since 2000.

The fourth finalist is Gary Salazar, who recently retired as the superintendent of the San Jon Municipal School District, a position he held from 2007-12. He previously worked at Tucumcari Public Schools as a principal and athletic director from 200005, and as a teacher from 1992-2000. He also is a past principal and AD at Capitan.

The finalists are scheduled to be interviewed Tuesday.

The board of directors is to receive a formal recommendation from the search committee at its next meeting, which is Wednesday. The committee was appointed by the board of directors.

The NMAA said 21 people applied for the position.

Tripp left recently to become a principal on the Zia Pueblo.