Assistant Principal Jaime Chavez joined the staff of Santa Fe High in 2022. Although she is fairly new to SFHS, she has found great enjoyment working here.

“It’s just something I love to do, to help students,” she explains. “Even though students sometimes fear me, I’m not to be feared. I want to see students succeed.”

Ms. Chavez says that although she enjoys working here, sometimes she misses her previous position as a teacher in various public schools, where she taught mostly secondary for twelve years, along with some elementary. She taught reading intervention, English language arts, and English as a second language.

She explains that she worked with many minority students and loved being able to help them and their families. It became a passion of hers to help those students transition into their new school.

She then left the classroom to serve as a school counselor at Rio Rancho for five years, before transitioning to administration in Santa Fe.

“It’s a significant change, being an assistant principal rather than being a teacher,” she explains. “Working with more adults than students is different.”

Yet she still works with students, just in a different way. “I enjoy engaging with students not just because of discipline.” Ms. Chavez said. “Giving consequences is NOT a hobby,” she says with a laugh. She loves the opportunity to work with students, even if sometimes it might not be for the right reasons.

Ms. Chavez still lives in Albuquerque, adding, “I have to drive quite a distance to get here to Santa Fe, but at the end of the day it is all worth it.”

Originally from a small town in northern New Mexico, Ms. Chavez says she really enjoys it here. She appreciates the “New Mexico lifestyle” saying, “it’s home.”

Ms. Chavez shares that she personally liked being in school and loves the opportunity of being able to work in a school. During her time as a high school student, she was in many extracurricular activities, including band, spelling bees, sports, and NJHS.

Some of Ms. Chavez’s hobbies include reading and being outdoors. She enjoys going hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting. Even though there’s not much green here in New Mexico, she enjoys the woodsy vibe of being outside, the cozy feeling of it all.