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Rio Rancho Public Schools honors assistant principal, counselors and student artists
Summary
The Rio Rancho Public Schools board recognized Guadalupe Gallegos as New Mexico assistant principal of the year, celebrated Vista Grande Elementary’s RAMP designation for school counseling and highlighted four student winners in the New Mexico Scholastic Art Awards.
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 10 recognized school leaders, counselors and student artists for local and statewide honors.
Andrew Pierce, principal of Rio Rancho Middle School, presented Guadalupe Gallegos with the New Mexico Association of Secondary School Principals’ 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year award. Pierce described Gallegos as “tenacious” who “leads with her heart and her mind.” Guadalupe Gallegos thanked the board and said, “It’s a beautiful district... putting students first.”
Vista Grande Elementary received the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation from the American School Counselor Association, making it the first RAMP school in Rio Rancho Public Schools. Principal Christine Prescott introduced counselors Angel Brown and Katie Doss, who she said helped the school complete a two-and-a-half-year application process. Brown and Doss described the designation as “a reflection of the dedication of our entire team” and detailed their work: they said the counseling program teaches more than 340 classroom lessons annually, runs hundreds of extended small-group or individual sessions and supports a school food pantry and other community services.
Dr. Kurt Schmidt, executive director of fine arts, and teachers Liz Olive and Diane Lee presented four students whose work earned Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The board recognized Caitlin Opie, Shireen Kamali, Natalie Henson and Lila Spratling; Olive noted that eight works from the district earned awards this year and that several pieces will be exhibited at the Orpheum through March.
Why it matters: The presentations highlighted district investments in student supports and the arts. Board members praised staff and students and framed the recognitions as evidence of district-wide programs — from counseling to fine arts — that contribute to student achievement.
Board comments and next steps: Board members congratulated honorees and discussed mentoring other schools through the RAMP process. No formal action beyond the commendations was required.
