Kim Ortiz settles into superintendent role with focus on relationships, literacy and student confidence

Magdalena Municipal Schools Superintendent Kim Ortiz, who stepped into her role on Oct. 20, 2025, says her first year on the job has reaffirmed her belief that small, rural districts can offer students something larger systems often struggle to match: deep relationships, personal attention and a sense of belonging that follows students long after graduation.

Ortiz traces her own commitment to education back to her childhood. School was never optional, she said, and expectations were clear without ever needing to be spoken aloud.

“I can’t remember a time when education wasn’t a priority,” she said. “You were expected to be in school every day, do your best and work hard to learn whatever didn’t come naturally. It never occurred to me not to do well.”

That mindset carried her into the classroom as a young teacher, where she quickly realized she wanted to reach more students than those on her roster.

“As a new teacher I felt I was able to serve the 180 students on my roster,” she said. “However, if I were a principal I could reach so many more students than just those in my classroom.” 

That desire to broaden her impact eventually led her into administration and, this year, into the superintendent’s office.

Ortiz said she hopes to remain in Magdalena beyond her first year, noting that she now has a strong sense of the district’s people, programs and needs.

“I believe I have a good idea of what is happening and who is making it happen by now,” she said. “I’d like to be able to stay and support those efforts.”

Despite its size, Ortiz said the district offers an impressive range of academic, vocational, arts, STEM and extracurricular programs. She credits the staff for making those opportunities meaningful and accessible.

“For such a small school district we do an amazing job of offering so many different options to students,” she said. “I believe we have something exciting for everyone.”

What sets Magdalena apart, she said, is the way staff know their students, not just academically, but personally. Teachers and support personnel often know family histories, strengths, challenges and the kinds of encouragement each student responds to.

“Our students are very fortunate to have such a caring and devoted group of professionals,” Ortiz said. “They can graduate and enter the workforce knowing they will always have the support of this school district behind them.”

Ortiz said the district’s greatest strength is its people. Classrooms, offices and custodial staff all share a student‑centered mindset, she said, and take pride in maintaining a clean, welcoming environment. Teachers, she added, are quick to intervene when a student struggles and equally quick to celebrate successes.

Looking ahead, Ortiz sees literacy as an area where the district can grow. 

“I would like us to start looking at individual student needs and work toward having literacy specialists who will help with targeted interventions,” she said.

Supporting teachers remains a priority as well. With an experienced staff already in place, Ortiz said her role is to ensure educators feel comfortable approaching her and confident that their needs will be taken seriously.

“If there is anything they need, we will do our best to provide it,” she said.

For Ortiz, student success in a rural community like Magdalena is defined by confidence and opportunity rather than a single path.

“Student success means students are able to graduate with the confidence and abilities to pursue whatever it is in life that will make them happy,” she said. “Whatever makes them happy and productive citizens is success in my book.”

Kim Ortiz was unanimously appointed by the Magdalena Municipal Schools Board last year as interim Superintendent to serve until June 30, 2026, following the resignation of previous superintendent Dr. Bickert.