New TPS chief says listening to students is first priority

Newly hired Tucumcari Public Schools superintendent Carl Marano said he’d talk with teachers, staffers and parents in the district, but he said his first priority is students.

“A lot of times we forget about listening to the students,” he said shortly after the school board voted to hire him during a special meeting on April 22. “And I think that’s No. 1.”

Marano, 52, said he learned that approach during his quarter-century in education, including at his current employer, Santa Fe Public Schools, where he is an assistant superintendent. He’s also been a coach, teacher, assistant principal and principal.

“My first few days on the job at Santa Fe High as a principal, I met with students first, because students can tell you what’s happening and why. So listening to our students is primary,” he said.

“I know this may sound cliched and cheesy, but every decision that I make is putting students first. But at the same time, we need to value our staff and the people that are working with our students as well. You put students first and, at the same time, you value your employees and the people all the way from myself to the custodians to nutrition staff to classroom teachers.”

Marano replaces Aaron McKinney, who retired Jan. 1 after 18 years in the district. Marano officially becomes TPS superintendent on July 1.

Marano said it is a challenging time in the field.

“I told someone the other day, I don’t think there’s ever been a more difficult time to be an education with everything that our kids are coming to school with, what our families are enduring,” Marano said. “So it’s it’s important to realize that and again value those people that are working with our staff … to build a culture that we are putting students first and at the same time bringing that excitement again of why we do what we do.”

Marano was asked about other goals.

“Looking at current enrollment at Tucumcari, it’s real strong in the elementary, and the middle school has been able to sustain it,” he said. “But the past few years, we’ve lost some kids at the high school level. Why has that happening? There is no reason why we can’t have 100% graduation rate in Tucumcari.

“Again, it’s meeting with students and families and seeing why they’re choosing to either be homeschooled or to go to other schools … what’s lacking and what they what they like to see. Then we look at that and see realistically what we can provide.”

Marano said he understands some TPS employees might be nervous about the change in leadership. He said he wants to ensure teachers have the proper tools to be effective.

“There’s more and more teachers new to the profession or on an alternative license,” he said. “We put them in the classroom a lot of times without training. So I really want to make sure our teachers are trained and and continue that support and coaching throughout the year. I don’t want to come in here and everybody’s on pins and needles. I want to create relationships, really be in that supportive role.”

The school board voted unanimously to hire Marano. Two other finalists — Tucumcari Middle School principal Lendall Borden and Explore Academy assistant principal Anthony Branch — were interviewed by the board on April 15. A total of eight people applied.

Borden, Marano and Borden’s mother Agnes were in the boardroom when Jerry Lopez made the motion to hire Marano and Robert Lucero seconded. The vote was unanimous, though board member Matthew Pacheco missed the roll call by a few minutes because he said he was pulling a tooth at his Tucumcari dental clinic.

A news release from TPS read aloud by board President Heather Gonzales during the special meeting stated the board chose Marano without dissent.

“Mr. Marano will begin his contract year on July 1, but plans to work some in the district before that time on a daily basis,” the board’s statement read.

The statement added the board “looks forward to the new vision Mr. Marano will bring to the District.”

Board member J.D. Knapp told Marano “we’re happy to have you” and appreciated the “uplifting” message he presented.

“We have potential, and I’m glad you can see that,” Knapp said.

“I look forward to working with you,” Pacheco said to Marano. Pacheco said he has a boy about to enter kindergarten, and he hoped he would graduate with Marano still in charge of the district.

Gonzales voiced her congratulations to Marano and added, “We’re very excited for change.”

Other board members echoed those comments.

Gonzales said after the meeting it was “pretty clear” after the interviews and subsequent executive session on April 15 that the board was attracted to the prospect of Marano bringing a fresh viewpoint.

“I just think we were looking forward to something completely different, a different approach,” she said. “So I think that’s what we all kind of leaned to.”

After the board’s vote, Borden gave Marano a congratulatory hug. Board members and administrators gave Marano similar well-wishes.

“I’m ecstatic,” Marano’s mother Agnes said.

Marano will be paid $150,000 a year with a two-year contract.

Though Marano is a Santa Fe native, he holds substantial ties to Tucumcari. A brother, Rico, resides in town. So does his mother, a Tucumcari High School graduate who worked in the district until a few years ago.

His late father Richard lived in Tucumcari for over two decades and was the public address announcer at Rattler football games before his death in 2021.

“My parents moved from Santa Fe to Tucumcari in 1998, and he loved it here,” Marano said. “He loved the slow pace. And he loved playing golf every day and until his back didn’t allow him to anymore. He was a staple at Rattler games.”

Marano said he was “very excited” about his new job.

“I am ready to come to Tucumcari,” he said. “I said it in the interview, my family’s here. My mom, my brother. I get a little emotional because my dad passed three years ago. For a few years before he passed, he said, ‘You need to come to Tucumcari.’ He would always try to persuade me.”

Marano said he went to his father’s grave at Tucumcari Memorial Park several times after he applied for the position and after his interview.

“I can just hear him talking to me and just saying how he’d be proud,” he said. “Since he passed, it’s been tough on my mom, and it’s just a place I want to be. I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”