Montezuma-Cortez School Superintendent Eddie Ramirez has resigned.
On Monday, a memo sent out to all district staff said Ramirez had announced his resignation from the Re-1 district, effective Tuesday. The memo was signed “District Administration.”
“We want to thank him for his service to our district, our staff, and most importantly, our students,” the memo said. “We appreciate the time and dedication he has given to our district and wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the board also sent out a message announcing the resignation.
“The Board of Education is actively working toward identifying and appointing an interim superintendent to provide leadership and stability during this transition,” the message said. “Throughout this process, the District will remain committed to student achievement, student outcomes, and providing our students with the education and support they deserve.
“We recognize that this is a difficult period for our District and community. We are confident that we will move through this transition because of the dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators who remain committed to our students and community.”
The announcement was both celebrated and decried on social media.
Ramirez, who served as assistant superintendent under Tom Burris and had also worked with Burris in New Mexico, was named the new superintendent in October 2025 after Burris announced his resignation in September of that year.
The choice of Ramirez caused some controversy because it was made hastily by the outgoing school board before the November school-board election, when five new members were chosen. The election marked a change from a very conservative board largely uniform in its beliefs to one that is more progressive, with some differing views among its members.
Ramirez faced criticism from some of the board members at a special meeting last week because of the district’s decision to use the Texas-based Bluebonnet Learning Curriculum in its K-5 schools. That curriculum contains Christian themes and messages and is focused on Texas history and geography. It also is reportedly riddled with errors.
In an open letter sent out on Aug. 8, Ramirez wrote that the district adopted Bluebonnet in order to improve historically low student outcomes in Re-1 and could edit out any biblical instruction. But some board members said Bluebonnet was not the curriculum they had approved in May.
The school board eventually voted 4 to 3 at the special meeting to reject that curriculum.
The district later announced another special meeting for this Thursday that included an executive session for “a personnel matter regarding the superintendent.” It is unclear whether that meeting will still take place.
It is also unclear whether Ramirez will be paid for the remainder of his contract
The board’s regular meeting is on Tuesday, August 18.
