DR. ARSENIO ROMERO

SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. Arsenio Romero currently serves as the superintendent of Los Lunas Schools in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Previous to that Dr. Romero served as the superintendent of Deming Public Schools since June of 2017. He is also serving as Regent for New Mexico State University since January of 2020. His positive impact on pre-k-20 education has been felt across the State of New Mexico. During his tenure as superintendent, he implemented several major transformational practices to improve preK-12 education across New Mexico schools. This brought Deming Public Schools from the lowest performing school district, to a model for instructional practices, financial stability, and world-class Career Technical Education pathways. These accomplishments led to being awarded by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents the 2019 National Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Romero has also been a statewide leader for education. He is part of the New Mexico Governor’s transition team, lead the statewide initiative on COVID response as a member of the COVID-19 State Task Force, and currently serves on the Governors Racial Justice Committee.

Dr. Romero is also a champion for children that are at-risk and with special needs. He has fought to increase funding and create legislation to support students across the State of New Mexico. Legislation has increased student funding, increased teacher salaries, and increased instructional learning time for students.

Dr. Romero also serves as an adjunct professor for New Mexico State University and Western New Mexico University. In this role, he is able to shape and mold the educational leaders of tomorrow. He also works with the New Mexico Public Education Department to mentor and coach principals and superintendents from across that state.

He is currently a member of the Chiefs for Change 5th cohort. He has worked extensively with the University of Virginia’s school turnaround program with success in multiple educational settings and school districts.

---

BRIAN BACA

DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT

NMPED PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE:

-Administration, Level 100 - 3B
-Teacher, Level 400 3A

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
-Assistant Superintendent Los Lunas Schools, Los Lunas, NM
April 2012 - Present
-Director of Personnel Los Lunas Schools, Los Lunas, NM
June 2011 - March 2012
-Director of Special Education Los Lunas Schools, Los Lunas,
NM August 2007 - June 2011
-Assistant Principal Manzano Vista Middle School, Los Lunas, NM
August 2005 - June 2006
-Teacher of the Gifted Daniel Fernandez Intermediate, Los Lunas, NM October 2001 - August 2005
-Teacher White Mountain Intermediate, Ruidoso, NM
August 1994 - October 2001

TEACHER:
-Los Lunas High School, Los Lunas, NM
January 1994 - May 1994

EDUCATION:
-Darden/Curry School Turn Around Program, The University of Virginia July of 2012 and 2013
-Darden/Curry Executive Leadership Program, The University of Virginia July 2008 and 2010
-M.A. in Education Leadership, The University of New Mexico
2005
-B.S. in Psychology, The University of New Mexico
1993

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
-Sigma Chi Alumni Association, University of New Mexico
-Alumni Lettermen Club, University of New Mexico
-Jostens Renaissance Coordinator of the Year, 2012
-Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for Los Lunas Schools, 2005
-District 2 AAA Softball Coach of the Year, 1996 and 1998

CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER

NMPED PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE:
-Administrative - Level Three-B, Pre-K-12
-Instructional Leader (Teacher) — Level Three A, K - 8 Elementary
-Instructional Leader (Special Education) – Level Three A, Pre-K – 12
-Educational Diagnostician, Level Three
-Endorsement in Teaching English to Speaker of Other Languages

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
-Assistant Superintendent of Special Services
Los Lunas Schools
April 2015 – Present
-Director of Special Education
Los Lunas Schools
February 2013 – April 2015
-Coordinator of Special Education
Los Lunas Schools
September 2012 – February 2013
-Educational Diagnostician
Los Lunas Schools
September 2008 – Present
-IEP Facilitator
Sundance Elementary School
August 2011 – August 2012
-IEP Facilitator
Peralta Elementary School
November 2007 – May 2011
-Adjunct Instructor, Fall 2006
University of New Mexico, Valencia Campus, Tome, NM
-First Grade Teacher
Peralta Elementary School
August 2003 – May 2008
-Special Education Teacher
Peralta Elementary School
December 2001 – May 2003

EDUCATION:
-M.A. in Language, Literacy, and Socio Cultural Studies, University of New Mexico 2004
-B.S. in Elementary and Special Education, New Mexico State University 2001

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
-ASCD Member
-Council for Exceptional Children Member
-Council for Learning Disabilities
-Council for Special Education Administrators Member
-Peralta Elementary Certified Employee of the Year – 2007
-Who’s Who Among American Teachers

---

DR. DEBORAH ELDER

CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER

Dr. Deborah Elder serves the Los Lunas Schools as Chief Academic Officer of Instruction, Accountability, and Innovation. She has served the students of central New Mexico for 27 years in a variety of capacities from the classroom to the principalship to district administration. Prior to coming to LLS, she led the Office of Innovation and School Choice in the Albuquerque Public Schools. There she established the first K-12 Engineering the Future magnet school pathway in the State; expanded STEM, dual language, digital and blended learning, and early college magnet opportunities for students; and promoted the role of high-quality charter schools. As a school principal, her leadership in integrating technology learning practices resulted in an increase in the school letter grade from D to A. Her career began in the classroom teaching 2nd and 3rd grade. She keeps the role of the classroom and school at the center of all that she does.

Dr. Elder is dedicated to growing the potential of educators at all levels, particularly school leaders. She serves as a performance coach and turnaround leader for the NM Public Education Department’s Priority Schools Bureau and completed the School Superintendents Association National Principal Supervisor Academy. She earned a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California with research on improving conditions for innovation in public education.

She has presented in national venues including Learning Forward and Magnet Schools of America. She recently served as a panelist in the International Coaching Federation and Association of Change Management Professionals joint panel on Leadership from the Front Lines.

The Los Lunas Schools’ mission to, “Prepare, empower, and inspire all students to reach their maximum potential,” aligns with Dr. Elder’s belief that New Mexico’s students deserve a world-class education that embraces culture, heritage, and language while preparing them to thrive in a rapidly changing world.