Interim Superintendent

The Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday selected Jesica Arellano as the interim superintendent following the transition of Dr. Pedro Galaviz into superintendent emeritus status on Aug. 1. 

Arellano, the District’s current executive director of curriculum and instruction, will lead the District while trustees conduct a search for a permanent superintendent. 

“We had a tremendous pool of candidates, most of whom were Canutillo-grown. While any of them could do a great job of serving the District in this role, we are confident that Dr. Arellano has the skills to continue moving the District in the right direction,” said Board President Armando Rodriguez. 

Arellano has a 20-year career in public education, having served as a teacher, instructional coach, campus administrator and central office administrator in both the Canutillo and Fabens school districts. Before beginning her career in education, she worked as an environmental and manufacturing engineer for different firms in El Paso. 

A graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, Arellano earned her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University. 

“I am thrilled to have the chance to help lead this amazing school district, its students and employees through this transition,” Arellano said. “Canutillo ISD educated my children, and I am an employee and taxpayer in this district. This is an opportunity to do something that will impact my entire community.” 

Trustees directed the district’s legal counsel and authorized the board president to work on Arellano’s contract, including her compensation.