Several schools across Albuquerque Public Schools will welcome new leaders for the 2026-27 school year, district officials announced.
APS is finalizing leadership assignments for multiple schools and departments ahead of the upcoming academic term. Administrative shifts, according to the district, frequently occur at the end of the school year as educators make career decisions.
Officials said the district continues to prioritize stability and experienced leadership. The adjustments aim to serve students and families more effectively.
The district has already announced several new principals and appointments. And officials will provide updates as additional hires are made before the start of the school year.
New principals
APS announced the following changes for 2026-27 school year:
- Rae Lynn Dooley will be principal of Highland High School after a successful stint as principal of Barcelona Elementary School.
- Ken Merhedge is taking over as principal of Valley High School. He previously served as principal of John Adams Middle School.
- Gilber Leiva is the new principal of Atrisco Heritage Academy High School. He previously served as the assistant principal for curriculum at Atrisco Heritage.
- Desiree Springer will be the new principal of New Futures. She had been the curriculum and instruction/12th grade assistant principal at Valley High School.
- Kristen S. Seamans will head John Adams Middle School. She previously held the position of assistant principal at Jimmy Carter Middle School.
- Kimberly Crabtree will serve as principal at Jackson Middle School. Crabtree previously held the role of assistant principal at the school.
- Renee Salazar Garcia has assumed the role of principal at Lyndon B. Johnson Middle School. She previously served as the school’s interim principal since September.
- Francesaca Ver Ploegh is now principal of Garfield Middle School. She was previously the assistant superintendent of magnet schools.
- Rebecca Rutherford will be the interim principal of Madison Middle School. She is currently an assistant principal at the school.
- Carlos Garcia will serve as the new principal of Chelwood Elementary School. He has been at Chelwood since November and also served as interim principal at McCollum Elementary School.
- Ryan Kettler is the new principal at Corrales K-8. Kettler is a former Los Lunas Schools superintendent. He has also worked as an adjunct professor for University of the Southwest.
- Kristina Anderson will be principal of Georgia O’Keeffe Elementary School. Anderson previously served as the school’s assistant principal.
- Alfonso Otero is the new principal of Zuni Elementary. He previously served as the principal at Highland High School.
- Molly Keyes will lead S.Y. Jackson Elementary School. She had been assistant principal at Montezuma Elementary School.
- Joseph O’Connell has been appointed principal of Alvarado Elementary School after serving as an administrative intern at Eisenhower Middle School.
- Denise Gomez is the new principal at Mary Ann Binford Elementary School. She previously served as assistant principal at Valley High School.
- Jonathon Aranda has been designated principal of Susie Rayos Marmon Elementary School. He previously handled the role of assistant principal at Polk Middle School.
Other appointments
APS has also announced several appointments to district administrative positions. The appointments include:
- Wilson Holland as an assistant superintendent. Holland previously worked at Los Lunas Public Schools.
- Annittra Atler has been appointed assistant superintendent after serving as senior director of Innovation.
- Ryan Finn will serve as the new executive director of Fine Arts. Finn previously worked at Los Alamos High School.
- Amy Baker has been named executive director of Nursing Services after previously serving as the department’s former senior director.
- David Vigil is the new executive director of Budget and Strategic Planning. He comes from Rio Rancho Public Schools.
- Patrick Dyer was named executive director of Maintenance and Operations. He previously worked at Presbyterian Medical Services.