Las Cruces School Board unanimously voted to choose Dr. Gregory Ewing from Marietta, Georgia as the new Superintendent for Las Cruces Public Schools.
Dr. Ewing accepted the Superintendent position on the phone saying it would be an “honor and privilege” to a round of applause from those at the meeting.
School Board President Maria Flores says Ewing’s experience set him apart, especially with students learning English as a second language.
“He has received awards from Univision,” Flores said. “And also from ALAS, which is the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, which was particularly compelling for myself as a second language learner.”
The Board offered Ewing an 18-month contract, and a salary of $165,000 per year. In an application video from Las Cruces Public Schools, Ewing says he wants to be an active part of the community.
“I pledge to you,” Ewing said. “If I am the person the board chooses to come and work here with you to move here and to become part of your community. To go to worship services here with you, to go to the ballgames, to support your schools, to support your students, to support the staff, and to become part of your family because I believe anyone you work with becomes part of your family.”
Cameron Castillo, a member of the Student Advisory Council, says he is happy with the choice and that students were involved in the selection process.
“I think this time around the board really did a great job,” Castillo said. “And Dr. Sanchez really did a great job of recognizing the need for student input and participation in this process because it’s critical. We’re hiring a new boss that we’re going to have hopefully for a long time. And it’s critical that the students that are affected by all these policies have their voices heard in the process.”
Castillo says he thinks Ewing will be an advocate for issues important to students.
“Obviously standardized testing,” Castillo said. “Every Spring it rolls around there’s always issues. But going beyond that, student engagement in the classroom regarding curriculum and things like that. Sometimes students won’t be as engaged in certain things, and they feel pressured and they feel trapped, so I think when Dr. Ewing get’s here I look forward to having conversations with him about that topic.”
Patrick Sanchez, President of NEA Las Cruces, says Ewing’s ability to connect with different sectors of the community set him apart, and he will have many issues to deal with, including tight budgets.
“What we want to do is use the resources that we have,” Sanchez said. “And they are limited to make sure that we attract and retain the best professionals in the classroom.”
School Board President Maria Flores says she is very optimistic about what Ewing will bring to the district.
“He will be a collaborator,” Flores said. “He will get in and do the work that needs to be done. He will work on school morale, which has been an issue the entire time that I’ve been on the board, so I think he will address the issues that will make schools a better place to work that teachers will choose to be a part of. He considers the people that work in the district as part of a family.”
Ewing starts on December 5th.
Information from LCPS:
LAS CRUCES---After a five-month nationwide search, the Las Cruces Board of Education selected Dr. Gregory Ewing from Marietta, Georgia, as the district’s new superintendent. The Board voted 5-0 at a special meeting this evening to select him from the three finalists that were being considered.
Ewing is currently the chief accountability and research officer with the Cobb County School District in Marietta, Georgia. He has a total of 29 years of educational experience as a teacher and administrator. He will begin his new job with LCPS on December 5, 2016, at a salary of $165,000.
“I am humbled,” Ewing said during a telephone call made to him immediately after the Board voted to offer him the job. “It will be my honor and privilege to be your next superintendent. I’m very excited to work with the teachers, staff, students, parents and community to make [the school district] even better.”
The Board also voted on his fringe benefits package that includes access to a school district vehicle, 21 days of vacation leave, 12 days of sick leave, cell phone service and Internet service at his home.
Ewing’s experience also includes 10 years as the district’s curriculum and instruction supervisor. He is also an assistant professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, where he has taught for 20 years.
He also has experience as a district administrator for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), foreign languages, international welcome centers, intensive English language program schools, and dual-language programs.
He has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Classics, and a Master’s of Science degree in Social Foundations of Education, both from Georgia State University in Atlanta. His Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology is from the University of Sarasota in Florida.
The Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents named Ewing the Hispanic Serving Administrator of the Year in 2016. He also received the Special Educator Award in 2016 from Univision.