Rio Rancho Educators Endorse New Superintendent Dr. Robby Dodd

The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education has named Dr. Robby Dodd as the district’s incoming superintendent, a leadership change that drew public backing today from Billie Helean, president of the Rio Rancho School Employees Union and a first-grade teacher at Ernest Stapleton Elementary. Helean framed the selection as an opportunity to build stronger collaboration between district leadership, staff, parents, and civic partners.

Helean emphasized that a change in leadership is not a "magic wand," and urged the community to treat Dr. Dodd’s arrival as an invitation to unite behind a shared vision. Her endorsement highlights priorities union members say must guide the new administration: improving teacher retention, creating meaningful professional development and career advancement opportunities, and aligning administrative policy with classroom realities so that safety protocols and student supports are effective in practice.

For local residents, the superintendent selection matters because district leadership directly shapes staffing, instructional programs, and school climate. Helean said focusing on teacher retention would move beyond recruitment toward sustaining veteran educators who mentor younger staff, a dynamic that influences classroom stability and student learning. She also stressed the need for professional development models that strengthen instructional practice without pulling teachers away from their primary classroom responsibilities.

The union president signaled active involvement from educators in the months ahead, noting her capacity to mobilize members and urging partnership from the superintendent’s office. That emphasis on labor-management collaboration raises institutional questions for the board and district administration: how will bargaining and formal labor channels be used to negotiate changes, and what mechanisms will ensure teacher input shapes implementation of new policies?

School safety and student support systems are another area Helean marked for scrutiny, calling for policies that are lived experiences rather than words on paper. For families and staff, that means monitoring whether new district directives translate into effective protocols in hallways, classrooms, and campus operations.

The selection of Dr. Dodd and the union’s public support set expectations for transparent leadership and participatory decision-making. As the district moves forward, community leaders, parents, and union representatives will be watching for concrete plans and timelines on retention initiatives, professional learning, and safety measures that affect day-to-day school life across Sandoval County.