Sonia Diaz, former superintendent of the Bridgeport Public Schools in Connecticut, is the new leader of the Las Cruces Public Schools.
The Board of Education made the announcement late Friday, following a day of candidate interviews at the Hilton Las Cruces.
“It will be my pleasure to work with you,” Diaz said. “Together we are going to make this an incredibly, remarkably successful system for all students.”
All five board members voted to hire Diaz, pending contract negotiations. A starting date and salary have not been set, but Board member Leonel Briseño said the board hopes to vote on a final contract at Tuesday’s meeting.
“I believe Dr. Diaz can bring healing and raise the educational bar in this district,” said Board member Gene Gant.
Diaz was most recently the deputy superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the Miami/Dade County Public Schools in Florida. She brings a doctorate in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University to the table.
But her hiring is not without controversy. Many in the community wanted the board to hire Charles White, a former LCPS deputy superintendent and the only local candidate to be named a semifinalist. There was public outcry when he wasn’t named a finalist.
The school district also has deep scars because scandal has led to the departures of two of the last three superintendents.
“We need to start healing, and we can do that with open dialogue and discussion,” Board member John Schwebke said.
Board member Chuck Davis, who voted against the list of finalists earlier this week because White’s name was not included, assured the public that the process was open.
“We did take into consideration your comments,” he said to members of the public who participated in interviews. “I believe the system was a well-conceived, well-done process.”
Diaz said it’s time for healing to begin.
“This is going to be a shared project,” she said. “It really is about bringing this community together to focus on children and adolescents.”