By Rodd Cayton Gabriella Durán Blakey Monday spoke of a school district, delivering world-class opportunities for the students it serves, from a rigorous International Baccalaureate program to simulated hospital labs for aspiring nurses to partnerships that put students on a quick path to careers in the building trades to research that stretches the imagination. That […]
■ Education
New RioTECH center puts students in the driver’s seat for future careers
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho high schoolers can now train on professional-grade auto shop equipment without leaving campus — or paying tuition — after CNM and Rio Rancho Public Schools cut the ribbon Aug. 28on the new Transportation Systems Technology Center at RioTECH. The 43,800-square-foot facility becomes the new home for CNM’s Automotive […]
Parents raised concerns about APS recording children’s voices using AI. The district responded.
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Parents across the Duke City pushed back against Albuquerque Public Schools’ use of artificial intelligence to record, analyze and store elementary students’ voices without explicit parental consent. The district listened and is now changing how it handles those recordings. At the center of the debate is Amira AI, an […]
A journey to 2040: RRPS celebrates the grand opening of Puesta del Sol preschool
By Rodd Cayton Dana Petro says Puesta del Sol Preschool welcomed about 100 4-year-olds into the classroom Tuesday, but Rio Rancho Public Schools is looking down the road. “We’re already thinking about who they will be as third-graders, as fifth-graders, as middle-schoolers, and ultimately our graduates,” Petro said at a press conference announcing the grand […]
Armed threats reported at Rio Rancho preschool, high school Monday
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho police responded to two reports of an armed subject threatening someone Monday morning, prompting a brief lockout at Rio Rancho High School, according to the Rio Rancho Police Department. Officers received a report around 8:07 a.m. that a man pointed a firearm at another person at Shining Stars […]
Taking the reins: Superintendent Dodd outlines priorities for RRPS as new school year starts
By Rodd Cayton Robert Dodd says he’s unlikely to be teaching anybody math or reading during the upcoming school year. However, he says, it’s his job as the second ever superintendent of Rio Rancho Public Schools to ensure the people who will be teaching math, reading and everything else have the resources, the guidance, and […]
Keeping it cool: A/C conversion part of APS strategy to fight rising temps
By Rodd Cayton It’s hot, and that’s not ideal for learning, Albuquerque Public Schools officials acknowledged Monday. Therefore, the district has been working on a variety of initiatives to keep kids cool. “We are overstaffed for the beginning of the year in terms of having all hands on deck to address any work orders,” Antonio […]
R4Creating keeps tech education humming with new Sparklight funding
Rio Rancho families chasing new tech skills just got a boost: R4Creating’s Community Hub is getting a fresh $5,000 grant from internet provider Sparklight to keep its STEM classes, job training and community gathering space humming. The money comes from Sparklight’s Charitable Giving Fund, which handed out more than $125,000 to 28 nonprofits across its […]
Back-to-school 2026: What Rio Rancho families need to know
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. It’s that week that many students fear and many parents, including myself, celebrate. It’s back-to-school week. Here’s what you need to know as the 2026-2027 Rio Rancho Public School year kicks off. Most RRPS students head back to class Thursday, Aug. 6. Preschoolers at Puesta del Sol start a few […]
APS receives grant to connect coordinators to instructional teams
Albuquerque Public Schools has been awarded a grant connected to enhancing its community schools program. The $50,000 National Moonshot Grant is for “Extending the Educator Team: Embedding Community in the Future of Learning,” an initiative of Remake Learning, a Pennsylvania-based network “that works to bring together a diverse network of stakeholders to imagine a more […]


