SISD Narrows Superintendent Search

SISD Superintendent Search

It’s down to two!

The Socorro School District has two finalists in it’s search for a new superintendent.

They are Dr. Xavier de la Torre, who is currently an Associate Superintendent in Elk Grove, California.

The second candidate is Dr. Anthony Monreal, who is a Deputy Superintendent for the California Department of Education.

When one of those two candidates are selected he’ll manage a district of nearly 40,000 students, with a budget of around 383 million dollars.

And with the memory of the embattled previous superintendent, Dr. Sylvia Atkinson, still fresh in everyone’s mind…parents say they want to make sure the district gets it right this time.

“Whoever we hire, the district has to move forward and that’s the most important thing,” said SISD parent Paul Guerra.

“I want somebody who will listen to the community, listen to the parents,” said Bonnie Soria-Najera, also a parent in the district.

That’s why District officials gave parents the opportunity to hear from both candidates, as well as ask them questions and voice their concerns, at two different community meetings.

Officials say it was all in an attempt to bring the district together and fix divisions created during Atkinson’s contentious tenure.

Both finalists bring more than 20 years of experience as educators to the table.

“It would be tremendous honor and priviledge to serve for the district in order to continue to improve for the benefit of the students,” said Dr. Monreal.

“I think the school district is good, but I think it could be great,” said Dr. de la Torre.

The district has been under the guidance of an Interim Superintendent since last June when Dr. Sylvia Atkinson agreed to leave the district.

ABC-7 will continue to follow this story closely.