Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez announced today, August 28th, the appointment of Amy Thomas as leader of Tesuque Elementary School. Thomas, who has been an instructional coach and interventionist at Pinon Elementary School since 2021, will assume the position on September 8th. Thomas will work directly with Assistant Superintendent Kathy Casaus, who will serve as Tesuque’s principal of record.
“Amy Thomas is highly experienced in all facets of instruction, including standards-based teaching and grading, which Tesuque Elementary began implementing last year. Her unique school-based experiences include delving deeply into standards-based learning while at Pinon Elementary, classroom teaching, overseeing testing, serving as a family engagement liaison, coaching teachers on reading instruction and helping students to progress who are experiencing educational and behavioral difficulties,” he said. “Welcoming and supporting her in this new role will be Assistant Superintendent Kathy Casaus, who will serve as Tesuque’s principal of record.”
Thomas said, “I am honored and excited to be joining the Tesuque community! Throughout my 22 years in education, I have been dedicated to instilling a love of reading and lifelong learning in all students. Tesuque is such a unique, special school and I look forward to building relationships while working closely with staff, students and families.”
Thomas has worked at Pinon Elementary since 2017 as a first-grade teacher (2017-18), second-grade teacher (2018-21) and instructional coach and interventionist (2021 to present). Previous to that, she worked as a classroom teacher and Title I reading specialist at McCormick Elementary School in Farmington, where she served on the district’s standards-based grading team.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of New Mexico (2001), a Master of Education, Pedagogy and Learning, Emphasis Reading from Eastern New Mexico University (2006) and a Masters of Educational Leadership from Western Governors University (2017).