APS Announces Leadership Changes for 2025-26

Successors named at a variety of schools in advance of the upcoming school year.

Although the 2025-26 school year is months away, Albuquerque Public Schools is already making plans to best serve our school communities for the future. Toward that end, the district is  announcing the following changes in key leadership positions at several schools. 

Such moves are not unusual. Our principals often make key life and career decisions near the end of a school year, and our team is always on the lookout to find talented new leaders in advance of a new school year.

In all cases, these changes are being made with the best interests of our students and communities in mind.

It’s always possible the district will experience other principal vacancies over the summer, and we will update you with any changes.

Changes for 2025-26 include:

• Tres Volcanes Community Collaborative K-8 School Principal Monica Garciasalas is retiring. Current Bel-Air Elementary School Principal Hannah Mainolfa will become the new principal of Tres Volcanes. 
• Crystal Avalos, currently the principal at Taft Middle School, will take over at Bel-Air Elementary School with the departure of Hannah Mainolfa. 
• Madison Middle School Principal Tammy Crespin is retiring. Current Eldorado High School Assistant Principal Angela Adcox will become the new principal at Madison.  
• Kennedy Middle School Principal Seth Shapiro will become the new assistant principal at Freedom and School on Wheels high schools. David Adviento Mackey, currently an assistant principal at Tres Volcanes Community Collaborative K-8 School, will become Kennedy’s new principal. 
• Truman Middle School Principal Michelle Armijo will become the new assistant principal at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School. She will be succeeded at Truman by the school’s current assistant principal, Sara Simpkins.
• McKinley Middle School Principal Andy Legant will be taking extended leave, and current Marie Hughes Elementary Principal Jenna Bludworth will become the new leader at McKinley. 
• George I. Sanchez Assistant Principal Andrea Aragon Nava will take Bludworth’s position at Marie Hughes Elementary. 
• John Baker Elementary Principal Katie Eaton will be retiring. Current Dennis Chavez Elementary Assistant Principal Katie Sievert will take on the role of principal at John Baker.  
• Griegos Elementary Principal Stephanie Gardner will retire, and current Dennis Chavez/North Star Elementary School Assistant Principal Denise Gomez will succeed her. 
• Los Ranchos Elementary Principal Craig Robinson will be the new assistant principal at Eldorado High School. Current Bel-Air Elementary transformational coach Lee Anna Maestas will succeed him at Los Ranchos.   
• James Monroe Middle School Principal Ashley Keilbarth will be leaving the district for another professional opportunity and Assistant Principal Olivia Oyinatumba will take over leadership at Monroe. 
• Pajarito Elementary School Principal Debra Larribas will be retiring. Dolores Gonzales/Navajo Elementary School Assistant Principal Jessica LaCour will succeed Larribas at Pajarito. 
• Susie Rayos Marmon Elementary School Principal Aimee Sewell will become the assistant principal of Janet Kahn K-8 School of Integrated Arts. Ami Montoya, current assistant principal of Mission Avenue Elementary School, will take on the role of principal at SR Marmon. 
• Whittier Elementary School Principal Dr. Robert Sims will become the assistant principal at Bel-Air Elementary School. Highland High School Assistant Principal Angela Rodriguez will become the principal at Whittier.   
• Emerson Elementary School Principal Angel Roman will become the new assistant principal at La Mesa Elementary, and Missy Cordero, the current assistant principal at Hawthorne Elementary, will become the new principal at Emerson.
• La Mesa Elementary School Principal Aura Acabal will become the new assistant principal at Navajo Elementary School. Current Mountain View Elementary Assistant Principal Joseph Hernandez will take her place at La Mesa.