Albuquerque Public Schools
Soaring High: Celebrating National Principals Month and Balloons Aloft
In her weekly message, Superintendent Durán Blakey celebrates the dedicated principals whose passion and leadership drive excellence across our schools.
Seeing beautiful hot air balloons lift into the sky from our campuses this time of year is a special treat for our students, staff, and families alike. I love seeing families flock to our elementary school campuses the Friday before the International Balloon Fiesta officially begins to take in the spectacle.
I’m proud of the partnership we’ve built with the Balloon Fiesta and local pilots over the past 25 years. Balloons Aloft gives our students and their families a front-row seat to the wonder of hot air ballooning — completely free of charge. Students get to watch the balloons inflate, interact with the pilots, and discover the fascinating science behind flight. It’s an amazing experience that we are fortunate to bring to nearly all of our elementary schools.
While October is known for hot air balloons in New Mexico, it’s also National Principals Month. I could not be prouder of the dedicated leaders guiding our schools.
Take a moment to reflect on a principal who made a lasting impact on your life. I still remember the principals from my time as an APS student. Their leadership truly defined the environment of my schools. Later, as a principal myself, I gained a deep appreciation for the countless quiet moments that build that culture: greeting students at the door, encouraging staff, listening to families, and guiding a school community through challenging days.
Being a principal is a demanding role. School leaders shape the culture and environment that drive overall success. At APS, our principals serve as CEO-level leaders and staunch advocates for their students and staff. I continuously encourage our leaders to take true ownership of their campuses — if a system is not serving their community well, I want them to feel fully empowered to stand up and find a better path forward.
One vital lesson I have learned as superintendent is that one size never fits all. Every campus has its own culture and dynamics, and principals are best positioned to determine what works for their unique community. While we maintain focus on student outcomes across all schools, there is meaningful room for principals and their instructional councils to innovate within those parameters.
We’re fortunate to have outstanding leaders exemplifying this mindset every day, people like Rae Lynn Dooley who was honored this summer by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce as Educator of the Year for her commitment to student success. As principal of Barcelona Elementary, Rae Lynn built a culture centered on rigorous grade-level instruction, data-driven collaboration, and high expectations — a standard she continues to champion in her new role as principal of Highland High School.
At Hoover Middle School, Principal Rebecca Sanchez has seen math scores increase by 8 percentage points in recent years. Rebecca is doing a wonderful job of executing the redesign we’re embarking on at all of our middle schools. She is fostering a student-centered environment where teachers collaborate to meet individual needs through project-based learning. Hoover’s efforts have even earned national attention.
Jessica Chavez, the principal of Dennis Chavez Elementary School, was recently named Principal of the Year by the Albuquerque Public Schools Principals and Assistant Principals Association. In true leadership fashion, she attributes this honor to the incredible team supporting her every day to meet the needs of her students.
This month, I invite everyone across our district to take a moment to thank a principal who has supported you, your team, or your school. To all of our APS principals, thank you for believing in your students and staff, and for guiding our school communities toward growth and excellence every day.
Have a great weekend, and enjoy the beautiful balloons!