APS, APD NAME TOP CANDIDATES

Goal is to announce new boss in March, with a start date of July 1

Six semifinalists are in the running to become the superintendent of New Mexico’s largest school district during unprecedented times in education.

The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education announced Wednesday that in addition to three original semifinalists still interested in the role, three others will be interviewed. Among them is interim Superintendent Scott Elder, former chief operations officer for the district who was appointed interim leader in the spring. The other semifinalists are:

■ Kimberly Finke, principal in APS.

■ James McIntyre, assistant professor and director of the Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Tennessee.

■ Bolgen Vargas, a self-employed consultant and former superintendent of Rochester City School District in New York.

■ Ignacio Ruiz, assistant superintendent, Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nevada.

■ Ushma Shah, assistant superintendent for elementary schools, instruction and equity, School District U-46, Elgin, Illinois.

The public can access their applications at APS.edu.

The semifinalists are scheduled to be interviewed the first week in February, and it’s anticipated that finalists will be named on Feb. 5.

Wednesday’s decision — which came after a doubleheader of meetings and a closeddoor discussion by board members — is the latest development in a search that started over a year ago after then-Superintendent Raquel Reedy announced her retirement. But it’s been a search unlike any other, with the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the process for months.

Finalists for the job will be interviewed again in March and will be able to reply to community questions, likely virtually.

Original semifinalists were chosen from 39 applicants. After the board decided to resume the search and repost the job, 15 more applied.

The next leader will inherit APS after a year dominated by budgetary challenges and remote learning in a district that teaches nearly a third of the state’s students.

The aim is to announce the superintendent pick by late March, with the new leader starting July 1.