Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez announced today, March 1st, the hiring of Jaime Chavez as principal of Santa Fe High School (SFHS) starting with the 2024-25 school year. Chavez has served as SFHS’ assistant principal for two years and will continue in that role through May, working with interim principal Jack Lain, who took the helm in January.
“We are excited to announce Jaime Chavez as Santa Fe High School’s new principal starting in 2024-25. In her two years at the school, she has strived to establish a positive rapport with all stakeholders, further students’ academic, emotional and mental health needs and provide strong instructional leadership. Her knowledge of the school’s community, passion and experience will provide continued dynamic leadership of Santa Fe High,” said Superintendent Chavez.
“As Ms. Chavez is already recognized as a critical liaison between the school, parents, business partners and the community, the Santa Fe High community can expect a smooth and successful transition to new leadership,” he said. “Mr. Lain will continue as interim principal through the current school year, working closely with her, as he has since January, to lay the groundwork for the new school year. We are deeply appreciative of all he has contributed this year to Santa Fe High,” he said.
Chavez said, “I am honored to be entrusted and given the opportunity to take on the role of directing principal of Santa Fe High School. I came to SFHS two years ago as an assistant principal. Although it has been a short time, I have grown to appreciate, respect and admire our dedicated staff, our wonderful students and their parents/guardians, our diverse community and our committed district and its leadership team.
“I bring to SFHS 24 years of educational experience, which includes being a 4th-12th grade teacher, a middle school counselor, various leadership roles within schools and extensive experience working with diverse populations of students. I am also bilingual, which has provided me the ability to support EL students and their families. I look forward to continuing the many great works that are in process at SFHS as well as working diligently alongside our SFHS community to strengthen and secure SFHS’ success and that of our students!”
Chavez taught fourth and fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade Language Arts, English as a Second Language, READ 180, high school English and high school English credit recovery in the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) from 2007 to 2017. She was also an AVID elective teacher with APS from 2016 to 2017, delivering private instruction to small groups of students to improve their academic and emotional development.
From there, she undertook career counseling as a counseling intern in the University of New Mexico’s Office of Career Services and clinical counseling at Desert Hills of New Mexico Residential Treatment Center.
From 2017 to 2022, Chavez was a school counselor at Mountain View Middle School in Rio Rancho.
Chavez holds an Educational Leadership Certification from New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) (December 2018), a Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling, with a concentration in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, from NMHU (December 2017), and a Bachelor of Arts in Education, with a minor in Bilingual Education, from NMHU (May 2001).