Lori Gaumer, who teaches English 2, 3 and 4, has been part of the Santa Fe High faculty since 2007. She has been teaching since 1995.

Born in Dixon, Ill., and raised in Tempe, Ariz., Mrs. Gaumer has also lived in Spain, California, and Iowa. Mrs. Gaumer attended California State University Stanislaus, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in social science, history, geography, political science, and economics. She earned her teaching credential and TESOL endorsement at Chapman University.

She says she became a teacher because “I loved history and politics and believed that I could share that and inspire my students.”  She adds, “I still strongly believe in the power and importance of history and government/economics classes as they encompass many of life’s important lessons.”

A piece of advice Mrs. Gaumer frequently gives her students is, “Be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there, doing what you’re supposed to be doing.” She also likes to say, “So, prove them wrong!”

Her son, Derek Grainger, works at Santa Fe High as an education assistant in the Ability Focused Learning Center. Her daughter lives in Tucson, and she also has stepchildren and granddaughters in Iowa.

When Mrs. Gaumer is not teaching, she and her husband, Doug, like to travel and try new restaurants. She likes to play word games on her phone and go to downtown Santa Fe and pretend she is a tourist. A summer favorite is when family comes to visit and they travel and share the beauty of New Mexico.

Mrs. Gaumer’s favorite word is PERSEVERANCE.