Logan superintendent stepping down

The superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools announced last week he is retiring at the end of the year to return to politics.

Dennis Roch, 51, a former state representative, told the school board and staff on Wednesday he was retiring effective Dec. 31 so he can become the caucus chief of staff for New Mexico Senate Republicans.

Roch sent the Quay County Sun a copy of the retirement letter he submitted to the board.

"I've been blessed to served the students, staff, and families of this district since my arrival as superintendent here in 2013, and I'm proud to say that Logan remains one of the best school districts in New Mexico!" he wrote.

"...I look forward to watching you thrive from my new post and anticipate seeing you when you visit the State Capitol. Thank you for the love and support my family and I have received here. ... The community of Logan will always have a special place in our hearts."

New Mexico Senate Republicans announced the hiring of Roch the same day.

"I am humbled and honored to serve New Mexicans in my new position with the Senate Republican Caucus," Roch stated in the GOP Senate Republicans' 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."

The Logan school board has scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss its options when Roch departs. (The meeting was after the Quay County Sun's deadline.)

"We're certainly disappointed to lose him, but the State of New Mexico has gained a valuable asset," board President Toby Willis said in a phone interview Thursday.

Roch had been in the midst of the board's annual evaluation during its earlier meeting in November. Willis said board members "absolutely" had no rancor or friction with Roch.

Roch said in a telephone interview Wednesday he would lend a hand to the board to find a replacement.

"I've committed to help them in any way I can and get them in touch with anybody that I feel like they could use to really be helpful," he said. "I certainly don't want to leave them in a lurch."

Roch has been Logan's superintendent since 2013. Before that, he was an assistant superintendent at Texico and Tucumcari.

He also served as a state representative in District 67 from 2009 to 2018 as a Republican.

Roch said he was approached by state Senate Republicans the previous week regarding the position and accepted the offer the same day it was made.

"I didn't seek the position," he said. "The new leadership in the Senate Republican caucus, having worked with me as a legislative colleague and knowing my experience and expertise. actually reached out to me.

"I really feel like God opened doors that I didn't even know existed and blessed this path for me to be able to to take this position and rejoin the fight for for commonsense solutions to support New Mexico."

Roch, who is paid about $143,000 a year as Logan superintendent, said he would receive "a slight raise" to about $150,000 at his new position.

State Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) said to the Santa Fe New Mexican that Roch's start date is Dec. 2, but he will not be paid by the caucus until January because he will continue to serve as Logan superintendent through the end of the year.

Roch succeeds Vincent Torres, who served as chief of staff under state Sen. Greg Baca of Belen. Baca, a former minority leader, did not run for re-election.

Roch told the Quay County Sun it was "a bittersweet decision" to leave.

"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."

Roch was asked about the accomplishment he was most proud of at Logan.

"When I arrived at Logan, it was already a stellar school district," he said "One of the things that every superintendent aims to do is either improve a district that is struggling or maintain a district that's excelling. This is what I wrote to the school board: that I am proud Logan remains as one of the top school districts in New Mexico."