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Las Cruces School Superintendent Receives Two-Year Contract Extension

Dr. Gregory Ewing

LAS CRUCES—Following the Superintendent’s mid-year performance evaluation, the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Dr. Greg Ewing’s contract by two additional years. Here is the information provided by LCPS:

The extension, which represents a break from the traditional one-year contract extension, means that the Superintendent’s current contract, originally set to expire as of June 30, 2019, is now set to end on June 30, 2021.

“We’re extending his contract to provide a sense of stability throughout the district and continue our collaborative efforts with Dr. Ewing,” said Board President Maria Flores. “We work well together and we consider this a long-term relationship. I feel very strongly about Dr. Ewing’s leadership and this extension is what the Board considers to be the best move forward.”

In order to offer the extension, the board will amend Ewing’s current contract to expire on June 30, 2018 and offer him a new contract effective July 1. The superintendent’s confidential performance evaluation was finalized in a closed executive session prior to the Feb. 20 regular meeting.

During the meeting, Board Secretary Ray Jaramillo introduced a motion to approve the contract extension, which was seconded by Board Member Maury Castro. Following the second, the Board held a roll-call vote which led to the unanimous approval of the contract extension.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to know that the Board has put their trust in me to serve as Superintendent for another three years. I’d like to thank the Board for their support,” Ewing said. “This extension is a validation of the efforts of our entire staff. As a district, we all work very hard every day and I am fortunate to work alongside such an incredible team of individuals.”

Ewing was hired as the Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent on Dec. 5, 2016. He has more than 32 years of educational experience as a teacher and administrator. In 2016, he was named the Hispanic Serving Administrator of the Year by the Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS) and received the 2016 Special Educator Award from Univision.

“I’m extremely proud the Board voted to offer this extension. I know he [Ewing] may not walk on water, but I think his leadership speaks for itself,” said Board Member Maury Castro.

Since arriving in Las Cruces, Ewing began his work at LCPS with a 90-day look, listen, and learn tour where he met with students, teachers, staff members and community partners to understand the wants and needs of the district.

During his roughly one-year tenure, Ewing created of the department of Equity, Innovation and Social Justice, established international welcome centers at all four comprehensive high schools, led the passage of a $50 million bond issue, and developed of collaborative working relationships with representatives from the National Education Association of Las Cruces (NEA-LC) and Classified School Employees Council – Las Cruces (CSEC-LC).

Last year, Ewing also testified before members of Congress at the “American Border Communities Forum: The State of Affairs under a Trump Administration,” in Washington, D.C. that uncertainty over the future of U.S. immigration laws continues to create anxiety among families that live in border communities. The event was organized by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), chaired by Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), representing New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District.

In addition to his role as Superintendent, Ewing also teaches a course at Doña Ana Community College and donates his salary from that teaching position to the LCPS Foundation. The donation is used for the district’s Student Advisory Council so that the high school students will have funding for expenses such as traveling to the Legislature to speak with lawmakers about the needs for public education.

Ewing was previously the Chief Accountability and Research Officer with the Cobb County School District in Marietta, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Classics, and a Master’s of Science degree with double concentrations -Social Foundations of Education/Educational Policy Studies and Latin and Italian literature - both from Georgia State University in Atlanta. His Doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology is from the University of Sarasota in Florida.