Dr. Virginia Sue Cleveland
(1949 -Present)
Dr. V. Sue Cleveland has served as the Superintendent of Schools for Rio Rancho Public Schools (RRPS) since the district’s inception in 1994. Over her tenure, she has overseen the district’s significant growth from 5,900 to over 17,000 students and has proudly witnessed the graduation of more than 10,000 students, each of whom she has personally watched cross the stage to receive their diploma. Under her leadership, Rio Rancho Public Schools has earned recognition for the quality of its instructional programs, state-of-the-art facilities, and an exemplary staff, as well as for fostering unique partnerships with the New Mexico business community.
A native of Albuquerque, she is the daughter of Roy C. Horton and Ruth Lacy Horton, and a graduate of Sandia High School. She earned her B.A. from the University of New Mexico, in August 1969 and married James W. Cleveland the same month. She received a M.A. from New Mexico State University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Houston. She also pursued post-graduate work at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Cleveland’s career in education began as a teacher at Mayfield High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She then held both teaching and administrative roles in the Deer Park Independent School District near Houston, Texas, and later served as Superintendent of Schools in Cherokee County, South Carolina, in the Charlotte metropolitan area.
Throughout her career, Dr. Cleveland has been an influential figure in both state and national educational organizations, serving on numerous task forces, boards, and commissions. She is a past president of the New Mexico School Superintendents’ Association and the New Mexico Activities Association. Her involvement extends to the broader community, where she currently serves as Chair-Elect of the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including a nomination as a finalist for AASA National Superintendent of the Year, the Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women, and induction into the New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders (NMCEL) Hall of Fame in 2020.
A dedicated and collaborative leader, Dr. Cleveland attributes much of her success to the support of her team of administrators, teachers, and staff at RRPS, as well as the guidance and encouragement of her colleagues across New Mexico. Through her vision and commitment, Dr. Cleveland has ensured that Rio Rancho Public Schools remains a district focused on preparing students for success in college, career, and military service.