Following the April 27 resignation of former superintendent Carl Marano, the Española Public Schools Board of Education moved quickly to appoint interim leadership.
During a special board meeting on April 27, the Board unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Karen Griego-Sanchez as interim superintendent. All five board members were present for the meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, with the decision announced after the Board emerged from a 20-minute executive session.
When requested, the Española Public Schools administrative office did provide a video recording of the special board meeting, as it had not yet been publicly posted. However, much of the audio prior to the Board entering executive session was cut off, making it unclear whether additional candidates or considerations were discussed during the open session. The district’s human resources department has not responded to requests for comment regarding whether there was an application process for the interim position.
All members of the board were asked via email to clarify the selection process for the interim superintendent, including what qualifications and factors led to choosing Griego-Sanchez for the role. As of press time, no board members have responded.
Griego-Sanchez brings prior leadership experience to the role, having served as superintendent of both the To’Hajiilee Community School and the Cuba Independent School District. In addition to her superintendent roles, she has held various positions across multiple districts throughout her career in education. She has also been recognized statewide for her work, including being named one of New Mexico’s “20 Women Making a Difference in Education” and was a recipient of the Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women in 2016.
In an interview, Griego-Sanchez said she stepped into the interim role to support students, staff and the broader community, emphasizing her experience in systems-level change that supports academic achievement and social-emotional learning.
“When I say system, it is all that supports the classroom and kids,” she said. “All the work done in districts should be aligned with supporting students’ academic success, social-emotional learning, career growth and graduation.”
She was first contacted about the position on the morning of April 28 and asked if she would be willing to assist the district through the end of the school year. After discussing the decision with her family, she agreed to take on the role and started on April 29.
The interim appointment is expected to last through June 30 finishing out the current school year. As of now, it remains unclear when the search for a permanent superintendent will begin, or whether that process is already underway.
In her first 30 to 60 days, Griego-Sanchez said her priorities include ensuring a positive and safe end to the school year, supporting graduation and promotion activities, stabilizing the district’s budget, and preparing for the 2026-2027 school year. She also noted plans to review district systems, align resources to support classrooms, and begin conversations with the community about long-term challenges, including declining enrollment and the potential for school consolidation.
“None of this will be done without the input of the community,” she said.
Griego-Sanchez said that maintaining visibility, accessibility and open communication will be key to ensuring stability during the transition.
“I am a big communicator, both in writing and in person,” she said. “Being accessible, visible, and a listener is critical. We need to hear concerns and act on them right away.”
She said that success in the interim role will be measured by the district’s readiness for the upcoming school year, including ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements, having budgets and programs in place, and supporting staff across the district.
Griego-Sanchez also confirmed she does not plan to apply for the permanent superintendent position and said her role is focused solely on supporting the district through June 30.
The leadership transition follows Marano’s departure, which became effective under the terms of a previously approved settlement agreement with the district. A settlement was filed in Santa Fe’s first judicial court citing Marano’s resignation on April 17.
The leadership change also comes within the broader context of frequent superintendent turnover in Española Public Schools, a pattern that has posed ongoing challenges for long-term stability and continuity within the district.
As the district enters another period of transition, attention now turns to how district leadership will ensure continuity for students and staff while working toward a more stable, long-term direction.