In a decisive move to ensure stability in district leadership, the Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees named Jesica Arellano as the interim superintendent on Tuesday. Arellano, who presently serves as the executive director of curriculum and instruction for the district, is to temporarily fill the void left by Dr. Pedro Galaviz as he steps into the role of superintendent emeritus starting Aug. 1.
As reported by Canutillo ISD, the board voiced confidence in their selection, citing Arellano's extensive 20-year public education experience to expertly lead the district during this transitional period. Armando Rodriguez, the Board President, praised Arellano's qualifications in a statement, "We had a tremendous pool of candidates, most of whom were Canutillo-grown. While any of them could do a great job of serving the District in this role, we are confident that Dr. Arellano has the skills to continue moving the District in the right direction."
Arellano has a robust history in the education sector, serving in roles ranging from teacher to campus administrator, along with leadership positions at the central office in Canutillo and Fabens school districts. Before joining the educational field, she was engaged as an environmental and manufacturing engineer. Her academic credentials include engineering degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University.
"I am thrilled to have the chance to help lead this amazing school district, its students and employees through this transition," Arellano said, as per Canutillo ISD, reflecting on the opportunity to positively impact her community. Her connection to the district is personal, not only as an employee but as a parent and taxpayer who has seen her children educated by Canutillo ISD.
The school board has also taken steps to ensure that Arellano's tenure as interim superintendent is formalized, authorizing legal counsel and empowering Board President Rodriguez to negotiate terms, including her compensation package. The search for a permanent superintendent is set to be conducted while Arellano oversees district operations in her interim capacity.
