RIO RANCHO — A Rio Rancho Public Schools alumna and parent who once taught for the school district was appointed by the Board of Education Wednesday to fill Dr. Beth Miller’s seat.
Stephanie Smith received a unanimous vote from the four-member board following rounds of interviews the board conducted with her and two other finalists — Glenn Walters, a former Sandoval County Commissioner and cabinet secretary, and Richard Bruce, a former RRPS administrator. A fourth finalist, Don Rush, a former Albuquerque-based sales executive, was unavailable Wednesday and was not considered by the board.
“It was very nerve-wracking. I actually thought it was going to go the other way,” Smith said in an interview following the meeting. “But the minute they all agreed, my heart dropped a little bit. I am really excited.”…