Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools is resigning next month to take a position with New Mexico Senate Republicans.
Dennis Roch confirmed in an email today he told the school board and staff he was resigning effective Dec. 31 to become the caucus chief of staff for New Mexico Senate Republicans.
New Mexico Senate Republicans also sent out a news release today announcing Roch’s hiring.
Roch has been Logan’s superintendent since 2013. Before that, he was an assistant superintendent at Texico and Tucumcari.
Roch was a New Mexico state representative in District 67 from 2009 to 2018 as a Republican.
“I am humbled and honored to serve New Mexicans in my new position with the Senate Republican Caucus,” Roch stated in the news release. “We have a lot of work to do, but I am excited to begin collaborating in efforts to make this state a better place to live in for all New Mexicans.”
Roch said in a phone interview he was approached by Senate Republicans a week ago regarding the position and accepted its offer the same day it was made Tuesday.
Roch, who is paid about $143,000 a year by the Logan school district, said he would receive “a slight raise” to about $150,000 at his new position.
Roch said it is “a bittersweet decision” to leave his position.
“I’ve got four kids myself, and they all attend Logan schools. So for them and for our family, it's difficult to ultimately say goodbye to a community that’s very much a part of our family and part of who we are.
“But I also feel like I've got an awesome opportunity right now to jump back into the fight to move the needle for New Mexico, the whole state. I'm uniquely positioned with my legislative experience and my knowledge and experience leading a school district to be able to support the Senate Republicans to make that kind of impact on a statewide level.”
The Logan Municipal Schools board has scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss its options for when Roch departs.
More information will be in next week’s Quay County Sun.