New Rio Rancho Public Schools Superintendent, Robert Dodd, says the district will use a bridge year to expand academic challenges and strengthen classroom instruction. RIO RANCHO, N.M. – New Rio Rancho Public Schools Superintendent, Robert Dodd, says the district will use a bridge year to expand academic challenges and strengthen classroom instruction. On Thursday, Dodd started his first first day as superintendent of Rio Rancho Public Schools. “For example, we’re opening pipelines to advanced math in upper elementary school and in middle school,” Dodd said. So that, sorry, they can move into seventh grade math material when they’re in sixth grade.