LAS CRUCES--- Dr. Steven Sanchez, interim superintendent for Las Cruces Public Schools, announced the selection of three top administrators to serve on his leadership cabinet — Crystal Valdez, Gabe Jacquez and Erlinda Martinez. Sanchez made the announcement at a School Board meeting Thursday.
Valdez, the school district’s controller in the finance department, has been selected as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective September 1. She will replace CFO Terry Dean who is retiring from LCPS at the end of August. Valdez has been the LCPS controller for five years, assisting with the development and management of the district’ $338 million budget. She previously served as the Assistant Controller, and worked at NMSU as a systems accountant and analyst.
Valdez recently earned the Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations designation through the Association of School Business Officials International. She is only the second school business official in the state to have the designation.
Gabe Jacquez, principal of Lynn Middle School, has been appointed as Associate Superintendent for Operations. Jacquez’ new assignment is effective immediately. As a temporary cost savings, Dean had temporarily assumed the position last school year following the retirement of Associate Superintendent Dane Kennon. The position oversees the district’s construction, cafeterias, transportation, physical plant, security, nursing services and technology.
Jacquez was recently assigned as Principal of Lynn Middle School after serving six years as Principal of Mesa Middle School. He was also the Principal at White Sands School, an Assistant Principal at Lynn, and was a former middle school science teacher.
A third member of the Interim Superintendent’s leadership team, Associate Superintendent for Instruction Andrea Fletcher, has announced her resignation from LCPS; she will join New Mexico State University’s College of Business as an Assistant Dean. Sanchez has selected longtime administrator Erlinda Martinez, director of LCPS federal programs, to be the Interim Associate Superintendent for Instruction beginning August 20. The new Superintendent will hire the permanent replacement.
Martinez has been a teacher, principal, director and a former associate superintendent for instruction during her long educational career. Since 2008 she has been director of the district’s federal programs.
“We have big shoes to fill with the departure of Terry Dean and Andrea Fletcher,” Sanchez said. “Fortunately, their replacements have a broad range of experience and talent which will help them in these critical positions that serve our schools.”