“Dr. B” begins his tenure at Magdalena Schools

Dr. George Bickert, also known as “Dr. B,” has started his tenure with confidence as Magdalena School’s superintendent.

“Magdalena schools will be the most dominant force in academics and athletics in the state of New Mexico, period. Academics precedes athletics both alphabetically and in priority,” Bickert said.

Bickert said he is committed to improving educational experiences and outcomes for all students in Magdalena. His goal is to ensure that students are well-prepared for college, the workforce, or military service. He believes that his extensive career in education supports his strategic approach to achieving these objectives.

“Our new superintendent brings a lot of experience and has a history of improving student outcomes. He emphasizes Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for every student,” Lynn Major, Magdalena School Board president, said. “I look forward to seeing the impact from his approach and hope he will make a positive difference for our children and community.”

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory that suggests humans are motivated by a series of needs arranged in a hierarchy. This hierarchy is commonly represented as a pyramid, with the most basic needs at the bottom. The needs, listed from the most fundamental to the most advanced, are as follows: physiological needs, safety, love and belonging, self- esteem, and self-actualization.

Bickert who most recently served as the superintendent in Ruidoso began his career with 14 years of teaching experience in Georgia, specializing in special education for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Over the years he has also enjoyed his time as a sports coach.

“I am a sports fanatic and junkie from college football on. I’ve coached a wide range of sports prior to becoming an administrator, including varsity girls’ soccer, middle school basketball, football, and both boys’ and girls’ basketball.” Bickert said.

After moving to New Mexico in 2006, he served as principal at Tohatchi Elementary School, where he helped significantly improve academic outcomes. He then became principal at Crown Point High School, raising graduation rates and expanding college credit opportunities for students.

In 2013, Bickert said he became superintendent in Ruidoso, overseeing a diverse district with a significant Native American and Hispanic student population. He retired in December 2023, but when he heard about the opening, he said he was drawn to Magdalena for its size and community focus.

He said his plan is to offer more opportunities for students by expanding access to dual credit courses and workplace certifications, allowing them to get ahead and reduce future college expenses. Additionally, he aims to emphasize student engagement and enjoyment, thereby fostering a positive school culture where students feel motivated to be present and actively involved.

“We want to celebrate our students more than ever. Little things, big things, we want to celebrate our students. We want the experience of coming to school here to be so wonderful they don’t ever want to miss it,” Bickert said.

For Magdalena’s new superintendent, the advantages of a small district like Magdalena are the ability to connect with all the students.

“Getting to know each individual student, personally talking with them, working on in detail what their next step plans are so we can help them achieve their dreams.” Bickert said. “And then having the experience of managing everything that goes under the roof of the superintendency, I really felt prepared and excited to come to a smaller district, and work with the community.”

Bickert addressed allegations made against his wife during his superintendency in Ruidoso. In 2021, the state Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against Janice Bickert, CEO of Total Teaching Solutions International, alleging violations of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. The lawsuit claimed that Bickert’s company charged nearly four times what similar companies charge and misled teachers about its ability to obtain proper work visas.

He said that although the allegations made headlines, when there were no findings or charges, there were no follow-up reports in the media.

“I do have an open door policy, if it’s on anyone’s mind and they want to talk about it, come by and see me, and I’m happy to tell you everything that happened.”Bickert said.

In January of this year, the Magdalena school board voted in a split decision not to renew Superintendent Dr. Glenn Haven’s contract. In March, the board had a work session on the hiring process and included a community survey. After a meet and greet with the top candidates on April 22 the Magdalena School board unanimously voted to offer Dr. George Bickert, a former Ruidoso Municipal School superintendent, a two-year contract for $150,000 a year.

Magdalena Students will have their first day of school on Monday August 4 and PreK will begin on August 18. Calendars, school supply lists and schedules have been sent out to parents. Please contact the school for more information. Magdalena Municipal Schools have new phone numbers beginning July 30th. Main line 505-619-8021, Elementary office 505-619-8006, Highschool office 505-6198011