Finalists for Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1’s next superintendent are Christopher Burr, David Crews and Jack (John) Props.
The Board of Education narrowed its search from nine applicants from several states after meeting in executive session for more than an hour Tuesday.
The board will interview the finalists next week.
Tom Burris is serving as the district’s interim superintendent after former superintendent Risha VanderWey resigned.
These finalist briefs are based on candidate resumes. The Journal has reached out to the finalists for additional information.
Burr has 26 years of education experience and is currently principal at Mill Creek Middle School in Newton, North Carolina.
Before that role, he served as the superintendent of the Upper Rio Grande School District C-7 in Del Norte from 2016 to 2021.
He was principal of Manitou Springs Middle School from 2008 to 2015.
Burr also has experience as an assistant principal and teacher.
He received a master’s degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in K-8 education from Wright State University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in education from the University of Wyoming.
Crews has 29 years of education experience and is currently the superintendent of the Sangre de Cristo School District in Mosca, starting last year.
Before that role, he served as the chief financial officer of the Lewis Palmer School District in Monument from 2019 to 2020. He held another superintendent position previous to that in the Norwood School District R2-JT from 2007 to 2019.
Crews worked in the Montezuma-Cortez School District from 1998 to 2007, first as assistant principal of Montezuma-Cortez High School and then as assistant superintendent of human resources and secondary curriculum.
His first education job was as a social studies teacher in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
Crews received a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Arizona State University. He also participated in a secondary education political science program at the University of Arizona.
Props has 24 years of education experience and is currently the principal at Chama Middle and Elementary School in Chama, New Mexico.
Previous to that role, he served as the superintendent of Vaughn Municipal Schools in Vaughn, New Mexico, from 2015 to 2021.
Before that, Props worked for Melrose Municipal Schools in Melrose, New Mexico, beginning as a science teacher. After working as an elementary school principal, he served as a STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) coordinator and then as a special education director for the district.
He also worked as a science teacher in two other New Mexico school districts.
Before beginning his education career, Props served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years.
He received a master’s degree in education administration from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in science, physical education and health from Eastern New Mexico University.
